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LUCIFER 

A  THEOLOGICAL  TRAGEDY 


LUCIFER 
A  Theological  Tragedy 

BY 
GEORGE  SANTAYANA 


HERBERT  S.  STONE  AND  COMPANY 

CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK 

MDCCCXCIX 


COPYRIGHT,     1899,    BY 
HERBERT  S.    STONE  &  CO 


INVOCATION 


Te  whose  lost  voices,  echoing  in  this  rhyme, 

My  tongue  usurps,  forgive  if  I  have  erred. 

Not  as  ye  uttered,  but  as  I  have  heard, 

I  spell  your  meanings  in  an  evil  time. 

Mock  not  the  hope  your  conference  sublime 

Hath  in  the  vigils  of  an  exile  stirred, 

But  let  the  music  of  my  woven  word 

Waft  to  your  shades  the  sweetness  of  your  prime. 

For  ye  have  passed  beyond  the  gate  of  day 

Into  the  twilight  of  a  paler  morn, 

And  hidden  beauty  from  the  world,  and  shorn 

The  mortal  eye  of  its  supernal  ray. 

Take,  till  I  come,  the  homage  of  my  lay, 

Nor  hold  the  pilgrim  of  your  night  in  scorn. 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 


THE  RISEN  CHRIST 
MICHAEL  THE  ARCHANGEL 
SAINT  PETER 

ANGELS  AND  SAINTS 

LUCIFER 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

AZAZEL 

BELIAL 

TUREL 

DEVILS  AND  WITCHES 

ZEUS 

HERMES 

ARES 

HERA 

ATHENA 

APHRODITE 

GODS,  GODDESSES  AND 
ATTENDANTS 


ACT   FIRST 

A  MOUNTAIN  TOP.      BELOW,   A  CAVE.      NIGHT 

HERMES  {alighting) 

What  star  art  thou  and  by  what  god  beguiled 

To  wander  in  this  heaven 

Far  from  the  serene  and  mild 

Circle  of  the  sisters  seven  ? 
O  blasted  rock,  untenanted  and  wild, 

By  lightnings  riven, 

Receive  thou  me, 
O  goddess,  if  the  Pleiad  lost  thou  be, 

Lost  too  and  driven 
By  viewless  currents  of  the  ethereal  sea. 

(Kisses  the  ground.) 

For  Earth,  my  mother,  while  her  child 
Wings  these  frozen  spaces  drear, 
Oh,  how  otherwise  enisled 
In  her  blue  and  liquid  sphere 


LUCIFER  ACT  I 


Swims,  forgetting  grief,  and  sleeps 
Wrapped  in  the  fleeces  of  her  atmosphere ! 

Above  Olympus,  Phoebe  dim 
Patiently  shines  the  while,  and  keeps 
Still  watch  in  heaven;  while  below  the  rim 
Of  ocean  now  her  brother's  steeds  uprear 
Their  fiery  manes  apace,  and  dawn  is  near. 
But  here  no  dawn  is,  and  no  morning  star; 

The  suns  that  nearest  are 

Show  like  a  twinkling  host,  and  peer 
Through  the  cold  night,  immeasurably  far. 

Here  who  can  dwell  ?     If  there  be  deities 
Whose  body  stone,  whose  spirit  silence  is, 
Here  they  might  slumber  frozen.     Wrinkled  brow 
And  cloven  sides  of  mountains,  heaped  up  rocks 
Toys  of  young  giants  long  since  dead,  and  thou 
Horrid  abyss  that  meteors  hot  might  plough 
From  Heaven  falling,  and  ye  vales,  by  shocks 
Of  earthquake  split  in  snowy  chasms,  Oh  speak, 
If  ye  have  tongues  or  any  ghostly  life ! 

The  stranger  do  not  wrong, 

A  god,  though  seeming  weak, 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  3 

Who  prays  you,  with  the  winds  too  long  at  strife, 
For  shelter  from  this  night  and  stinging  thong 
Of  sleet.     Oh,  answer  me,  if  any  banished  soul 
Haunts  you,  and  guards  from  harm  the  frozen  pole. 

LUCIFER 

(rising  from  a   rocky  pinnacle  upon  which  he  has  been  seated] 

Nay!     Not  a  banished  soul.     What  seems  forlorn, 
Hermes,  to  thee,  another  loveth  best. 

In  this  crag,  the  throne  of  scorn, 

Hath  a  bolder  spirit  rest. 

HERMES 

Thou  who  callest  me  by  name, 
Large  spectre  plumed  for  the  eagle's  flight, 

Let  me  be  thy  guest  this  night 
If  kindness  move  thy  breast,  or  any  flame 
Leap  on  thy  hearth,  that  henceforth,  ever  bright, 

On  this  hoarse  and  angry  coast, 
May  gleam  the  beacon  of  its  sacred  light 

Where  a  god,  by  fortune  hurled, 

Found  an  altar  and  a  host 
High  on  the  utmost  headland  of  the  world. 


4  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER  (advancing) 

Stranger,  look  upon  this  face, 
Look  long,  nor  let  thy  fond  heart  rashly  speak. 
Seest  thou  mortal  blood  within  this  cheek  ? 

Do  not  think  thy  brother's  grace 
Befits  all  spirits.     Some  there  be  too  high 

To  wear  outward  glory  still; 

For  it  passes  nature's  skill 

To  paint  reason  to  the  eye 
Or  cast  in  mould  indomitable  will. 

My  hand  drew  yon  starry  girth 
About  the  middle  of  the  hollow  sky; 

I  have  stood  a  witness  by 

At  the  founding  of  the  earth; 

I  have  seen  the  twelve  gods'  birth, 
Alas !  and  I  wait  to  see  them  die. 

HERMES 

Imperious  spirit,  I  would  not  offend. 

Thy  heart  knows  if  this  be  truth, 
And  mine  eyes,  on  thee  gazing,  comprehend 

That  thou  art  a  god  in  sooth. 

Be  then  gracious,  and  befriend 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  5 

The  stranger,  and  beside  thee  grant  me  rest, 
That  I  gain  strength  unto  my  journey's  end, 
And  see  again  Olympus'  gleaming  crest 
And  the  brothers  that  I  love. 

(Embraces  the  knees  of  Lucifer) 
LUCIFER 

But  what  error  brought  the  dove 
To  the  eagle's  wintry  nest  ? 

HERMES 

I  wandered  long  upon  an  idle  quest 
And  found  no  other  isle  in  all  the  deep. 

LUCIFER 

Luckless  for  the  child  of  Jove 
To  set  his  winged  foot  upon  this  steep. 
No  vines  upon  so  wild  a  ruin  creep, 
No  Nereid  sports  in  such  an  icy  cove. 
But,  come.     There  is  a  cavern  in  the  hill. 

HERMES 

'Twill  be  a  covert  from  this  piercing  air. 


6  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

My  servant's  fire  shall  medicine  thy  chill. 
Perhaps  thy  hunger  will  not  scorn  our  fare. 
This  way.     'Tis  dark  along  the  icy  stair. 

(Gives  Hermes  his  hand) 
HERMES 

Art  thou  a  serpent,  that  thy  flesh  is  cold  ? 

LUCIFER 

They  call  me  so.     My  blood  was  hot  of  old. 

HERMES 

But  froze  from  breathing  long  this  cruel  storm? 

LUCIFER 

Nay,  gentle  Hermes.     It  was  not  the  wind 
Which  only  bites  because  the  heart  is  warm. 
Mine  cannot  suffer.     In  my  youth  I  sinned 
And  loved  the  soft  caresses  of  the  world. 
Now  I  am  free.     I  have  forsworn  delight 
Which  makes  us  slaves. 

HERMES 

The  chill  of  wintry  night 
Keeps  germs  from  budding;  with  no  leaf  unfurled 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  7 

Dies  the  imprisoned  deity  within. 

How,  then,  shouldst  thou  be  free  beneath  the  blight 

Of  this  sharp  flaw? 

LUCIFER 

I  can  be  free  from  sin. 

( They  reach  the  cave) 
HERMES 

O  welcome  glow  !     My  brother's  nimble  spirit 
Even  to  this  region  creeps,  ingenious  fire, 
And  leaps  to  meet  me,  conscious  that  I  came. 
But  who  is  he  I  see  in  silence  near  it  ? 

LUCIFER 

An  angel  once,  now  guardian  of  this  flame, 
Still  studious,  as  thou  seest,  of  the  lyre. 
He  mixed  the  draught  and  heaped  the  driftwood  up 
That  we  have  light  and  comfort  while  we  sup. 

( They  sit  down) 
HERMES 

A  subtle  servitor,  that  serves  desire. 

So  watching  for  the  dawn  before  the  fight 

Soldiers  might  bivouac. 


8  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Stranger,  fill  thy  cup 

And  wrap  thee  in  this  cloak,  if  coarse  attire 
Can  please  thee,  being  warm,  on  such  a  night. 
Guests  come  not  often  hither,  for  the  sky 
Grudges  me  chance  of  hospitality 
Lest  that  small  virtue  in  me  wound  its  sight. 

HERMES 
But  is  the  sky  thine  enemy? 

LUCIFER 

Thou  seest 

It  doth  not  flatter.     Yet  'tis  the  ally 
Of  one  that  wrongs  us  both. 

HERMES 

Why,  if  thou  fleest 
Into  the  tempest,  on  thee  it  must  blow. 

LUCIFER 

Ah,  if  thou  knewest ! 

HERMES 

Art  thou  here  confined  ? 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  c 

LUCIFER 

By  a  great  sorrow  and  a  tameless  mind. 

HERMES 

A  sorrow  ? 

LUCIFER 

Listen,  if  thou  needs  must  know, 
There  is  among  the  stars  one  greatest  star 
Which  showeth  dark,  and  none  may  see  it  shine. 
Men  know  it  by  their  hope;  a  hand  divine 
Must  darkly  lead  them  thither  from  afar. 
But  once  within  its  bounds  eternal  light 
Streams  on  their  ampler  souls,  and  there  they  are 
What  upon  earth  they  would  be.      Of  this  realm 
An  ancient  God  is  king,  majestic,  wise, 
Of  triple  form  and  all-beholding  eyes. 
The  terror  of  his  glance  can  overwhelm 
The  sense,  as  lightning  when  it  rends  the  skies. 
The  dread  words  of  his  mouth  are  gladly  heard 
But  marvellous  their  meaning,  not  to  prove 
Except  by  faith  and  argument  of  love. 
He  saith  he  fashioned  nature  with  a  word, 
And  in  him  all  things  are  and  live  and  move. 


io  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

To  that  fair  kingdom  from  primeval  night 

I  passed,  and  clad  in  splendour  and  in  might 

I  led  the  armies  of  my  father,  God. 

My  right  hand  urged  them  with  a  sword  of  light, 

My  left  hand  ruled  them  with  a  flowering  rod. 

Brave  was  my  youth  and  pleasing  in  his  sight, 

Next  him  in  honour;  till  one  day  discourse 

Upon  his  greatness  and  our  being's  source 

Led  me  to  question :  "  Tell,  O  Lord,  the  cause 

Why  sluggish  nature  doth  with  thee  contend. 

And  thy  designs,  observant  of  her  laws, 

By  tortuous  paths  must  struggle  to  their  end." 

To  this  with  many  words  of  little  pith 

He  answered. 

And  as  when  sailors  crossing  some  broad  frith 

Spy  in  the  lurid  west  a  sudden  gloom 

And  grasp  the  rudde  t  taking  double  reef, 

I  nerved  my  heart  for  battle ;  for  my  doom 

I  saw  upon  me,  and  that  I  was  born 

To  suffer  and  to  fill  the  world  with  grief. 

But  strong  in  reason,  terrible  in  scorn, 

I  rose.     u  Seek  not,  O  Lord,  my  King,"  I  cried, 

"  With  solemn  phrases  to  deceive  my  doubt. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  n 

Tell  me  thy  thought,  or  I  will  pluck  it  out 
With  bitter  question.     Woe  if  thou  hast  lied, 
Woe  if  thou  hast  not !     Make  thy  prudent  choice ! 
Either  confess  that  how  thou  cam'st  to  be 
Or  why  the  winds  are  docile  to  thy  voice, 
And  why  the  will  to  make  us  was  in  thee, 
And  why  the  partners  of  thy  life  are  three 
Thou  canst  not  know,  but  even  as  the  rest 
That  wake  to  life  behold  the  sun  and  moon 
And  feel  their  natural  passions  stir  their  breast 
They  know  not  why,  so  thou  from  some  long  swoon 
Awaking  once,  didst  with  supreme  surprise 
Scan  thy  deep  bosom  and  the  vault  of  heaven, — 
For  I  did  so  when  fate  unsealed  mine  eyes. 
Thy  small  zeal  for  the  truth  may  be  forgiven 
If  thou  confess  it  now,  and  I  might  still 
Call  thee  my  master,  for  thou  rulest  well 
And  in  thy  kingdom  I  have  loved  to  dwell. 
Or  else,  if  truth  offend   thy  pampered  will, 
And  with  caressing  words  and  priestly  spell 
Thou  wouldst  seduce  me,  henceforth  I  rebel." 
I  knew  his  answer,  and  I  drew  my  sword, 
And  many  spirits  gathered  to  my  side. 


12  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

But  in  high  heaven  he  is  still  the  Lord  ; 

I  am  an  exile  in  these  spaces  wide 

Where  none  is  master.     The  north  wind  and  the 

west 
Are  my  companions,  and  the  void  my  rest. 

HERMES 

'Tis  much.     When  evil  fortune  bows  a  friend 
We  blush  that  we  are  happy. 

LUCIFER 

Nay,  rejoice. 

The  pleasant  music  of  a  tempered  voice 
Is  cure  for  sadness.      If  my  grief  could  end 
It  would  with  dreaming  of  an  age  of  gold 
When  all  were  blessed. 

HERMES 

They  who  serve  thy  King 
Are  they  not  blessed  still  ? 

LUCIFER 

A  doubtful  thing 

Is  happiness  like  that.     They  grow  not  old. 
They  live  in  friendship  and  their  wondering  eyes 
Blinded  to  nature  feed  on  fantasies. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  13 

Their  raptured  souls,  like  lilies  in  a  stream, 
That  from  their  fluid  pillow  never  rise, 
Float  on  the  lazy  current  of  a  dream. 
My  grief  is  not  that  I  am  not  like  them, 
Or  that  the  splendour  of  my  life  is  less. 
My  soul  hath  kinship  with  the  wilderness. 
But  rage  at  pangs  that  reason  cannot  stem — 
Right  balked  with  cunning  and  truth  shamed  with 

lies — 

Rage  that  the  lust  of  living  never  dies 
Gnaws  at  my  heart.     My  noble  trust  deceived 
In  justice  and  indomitable  truth, 
The  unthought  of  shame  that  I  should  stand  alone 
When  universal  nature  was  aggrieved 
And  should  have  mutinied  !     Faith  of  my  youth 
That  my  stout  heart  did  never  yet  disown, 
Prove  thyself  true  and  still  to  be  believed ! 
Hasten,  just  day,  and  hurl  him  from  his  throne 
As  children  in  a  chasm  cast  a  stone  ! 

HERMES 

That  day  may  come,  but  wishing  now  is  vain. 
Rest  from  this  passion  ;  much  I  fear  my  speech 
Hath  stirred  unwittingly  a  slumbering  pain. 


1 4  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Not  slumbering;  dumb,  and  eased  with  words  again 
Now  thou  dost  listen. 

HERMES 

Tell  me,  I  beseech, 

Were  many  with  thee  from  thy  kingdom  driven? 
And  are  their  hearts  embittered  like  thine  own  ? 

LUCIFER 

Like  mine  ?   Like  mine  ?  Peerless  I  stood  in  heaven, 
And  in  misfortune  still  I  stand  alone. 
They  follow  each  his  will,  and  ill  they  fare. 
In  having  poor  and  only  rich  in  greed, 
They  dwell  in  caves  or  sail  the  murky  air. 
Their  spirits  have  been  humbled  to  their  need. 
In  hunger  once,  not  finding  root  or  weed 
One  killed  a  heron  and  lapped  up  the  blood. 
Straight  his  will,  mastered  by  the  infectious  deed, 
Lost  its  free  function.      His  lean  body's  food 
Must  be  warm  blood,  on  blood  his  visions  feed. 
Another,  then  without  the  goad  of  lust, 
Fell  to  lasciviousness  ;  his  narrowed  gaze, 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  15 

Caught  by  the  wanton  image,  from  him  thrust 
All  other  joys.     Impossible  desire 
Is  the  foul  torment  of  his  nights  and  days. 
So  some  to  drunkenness  and  some  to  ire 

Are  also  slaves. 

HERMES 

If  all  are  thus  depraved 
I  see  thou  canst  not  live  among  them  now. 

LUCIFER 

They  are  my  people,  Hermes.   Knowest  thou 

'Twas  by  my  deed  that  they  \vere  first  enslaved  ? 

How  should  I  leave  them  ?     Wrongly  I  allow 

Myself  this  absence,  but  their  hideous  lot 

Fills  me  with  grief,  and  I  can  bear  it  not. 

Almost  it  seemeth  that  the  will  must  err 

That  brings   such  sorrow.     That    thought  rends 

my  heart 

With  vacillation.     Fear  me.     All  I  touch 
Is  blasted  with  infection. 

HERMES 

Bitter  thou  art, 
And  to  a  by-gone  sorrow  bound  too  much. 


1 6  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Thinkest  thou  it  is  gone  ?     Was  it  the  blow 
Of  Michael's  sword  ?     Was  it  the  infinite  fall, 
The  darkness,  the  desire  for  heaven  ?     No  ! 
What  men  call  pain  I  never  felt  at  all, 
Nor  fear,  nor  need  to  see  the  face  of  God. 
The  love  of  woman  I  have  held  in  scorn, 
And  could  I  make  an  Eden  with  a  nod,  , 

I  would  not  do  it.     'Tis  nothing  to  my  soul 
What  blooms,  what  withers ;  by  what  little  thorn 
My  firm  foot,  treading  on  the  rose,  is  torn. 
These  things  are  swallowed  in  the  fatal  whole 
That  mocks  at  justice. 

HERMES 

But  why  dwell  apart 

On  this  bleak  mountain  ?     If  thy  wound  is  deep 
To  natural  slumber  yield  thy  tortured  heart. 
Watch  not  these  feeble  stars,  sad  lamps  of  grief, 
But  close   thine  eyes   on  the  vain  past,  and  sleep. 

LUCIFER 

Sleep  ?  Yet,  why  not  ?  When  every  shivering  leaf 
From  the  proud  oak  is  stripped  by  autumn's  flaw 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  17 

He  suffers  winter's  deep  oblivious  snows 

To  choke  his  anguish  and  enshroud  his  woes, 

Nor  wakes  till  the  new  buds  begin  to  thaw 

And  the  whole  forest  is  alive  with  song. 

Yes,  sleep.     The  child,  rebellious  at  some  wrong, 

Frets  in  his  helpless  pain  till  slumber  dries, 

Closing  his  weary  eyelids,  his  dim  eyes. 

They  open  laughing  in  the  morning  light  j 

Then  his  keen  pang  is  nothing,  and  his  cries 

The  all-forgotten  dream  of  yesternight. 

But  is  my  grief  a  child's  ?      Am  I  so  slight  ? 

Or  could  my  bosom  like  the  wanton  trees 

Put  forth  new  blooms  to  every  wind  that  blew  ? 

Say  that  it  could  :  say  that  some  vernal  breeze 

Melted  my  winter  ;  could  my  vain  forgetting 

Make  heaven  just  or  make  the  past  untrue  ? 

The  evil  lives,  and  if  I  ceased  regretting 

I  should  be  more  unhappy  than  I  knew. 

HERMES 

No  one  is  truly  happy.     Evil  things 
Fate  lays  upon  us.     Yet  she  makes  amends, 
Bringing  us  daily  comfort  on  the  wings 
Of  sleep,  and  by  the  willing  hands  of  friends. 


1 8  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Of  friends  ? 

HERMES 

Thou  hadst  none  ?     Deem  that  time  is  far. 
Friendship  is  knitted  in  a  single  night 
'Twixt  noble  minds.  Quench  not  the  memory  quite 
If  I  to-day  was  welcome  in  this  star, 
But  let  that  breed  new  kindness.     I  in  turn 
Would  greet  thee  in  my  kingdom.     It  is  fair. 
The  wisest  mind  hath  something  yet  to  learn, 
And  I  might  teach  oblivion  to  thee  there. 
How  sweet  it  is  to  scent  that  fragrant  air 
At  evening,  where  the  outer  planets  burn  ! 
Ah  !  hear  the  blast.     I  yet  have  far  to  fare. 

LUCIFER 

Aks !  I  have  not  suffered  thee  to  rest. 

I  had  forgotten,  as  I  sleep  no  more, 

Thy  happy  need  of  sleep.     Ay,  to  the  roar 

Of  this  hoarse  ocean  shut  a  while  thy  breast, 

And  on  the  pillow  of  thy  bended  arm 

Lay  there  thy  head.     It  is  a  barren  nest, 

But,  by  mine  honour,  stranger,  safe  from  harm. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  19 

I  will  watch  yonder  on  the  mountain  crest  \ 
Perchance  ere  thou  awake  the  drifting  storm 
Will  veer  to  blow  thee  homeward  from  the  west. 

HERMES 
Do  as  thou  wilt.     Here  by  the  hearth  'tis  warm. 

(Lies  down  in  the  cave) 
LUCIFER 

Turel ! 

TUREL 

My  lord. 

LUCIFER 

To-day — or  am  I  wrong? — 
I  heard  thee  croon  and  strum  upon  the  lyre. 
It  was  some  echo  of  Sicilian  song 
Which  shepherds  on  the  slopes  of  ./Etna's  pyre 
Thou  heardst  to  sing,  when  we  were  wanderers. 
It  was  a  hymn  they  chanted  to  this  god. 
Sing  it.      He'll  dream  the  breath  of  summer  stirs 
The  leafy  grove,  while  'mid  his  worshippers 
He  doth  upon  his  wreathed  altar  nod. 

TUREL 

I  do  but  half  remember  it,  my  lord, 
But  I  will  try. 

(Turel  sits  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave  with  his  lyre) 


20  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Do,  boy.     Ay,  that's  the  chord. — 
Play  on.     The  children  of  Pythagoras 
When  they  would  sleep  bade  gentle  numbers  sound 
To  tune  the  soul  to  truth  and  the  profound 
Order  of  things ;  so  might  she  sooner  pass 
Into  the  light  and  be  with  beauty  crowned. 

(Climbs  to  his  seat  upon  the  rocky  pinnacle) 
TUREL  (sings) 

O  blessed  night  that  crept 
O'er  Maia's  cave  when  Zeus  approached  her  side, 

While  in  Olympus  wide 
Among  the  gods  the  white-armed  Hera  slept. 

For,  when  the  tenth  new  moon 
Over  Cyllene  cast  its  thievish  beams, 

She  bare  the  friend  of  dreams 
Who  born  at  daybreak  played  the  lyre  at  noon. 

HERMES  (rising  on  his  elbow} 

What  voice  is  this  ?  What  words  I  long  have  heard  ? 
Good  youth,  is  this  thy  song? 

TUREL 

'Tis  I  that  sing. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  21 

HERMES 

Who  taught  thee  ? 

TUREL 

He  who  taught  each  cuckoo-bird 
To  mock  the  rest. 

HERMES 

Where  didst  thou  hear  the  thing  ? 

TUREL 
In  Sicily  they  sang  it  long  ago. 

HERMES 

But  wast  thou  there  ? 

TUREL 

My  master  travelled  then 

Much  upon  earth.     'Twas  well  for  me  to  know 
The  country  manners  and  thoughts  of  men 
So  he  should  keep  me  by  him. 

HERMES 

Not  of  late 
Thou  servest  Lucifer  ? 


22  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

TUREL 

Know  you  the  date 

When  first  he  marshalled  all  the  heavenly  host  ? 
That  day  he  chose  two  youths,  who  pleased  him 

most, 

To  walk  before  him,  me  to  bear  the  spear 
And  one  more  stout  to  bear  the  golden  shield ; 
But  he  feigned  scruples  when  the  end  drew  near, 
And  followed  not  his  master  to  the  field. 
So  I  remain  alone. 

LUCIFER  (above) 

Is  this  a  dream  ? 

What  vital  breath  is  blowing  on  my  soul  ? 
Into  my  deepest  bosom  falls  a  gleam 
That  makes  me  wish  to  live.     Oh,  strange,  I  seem 
As  if  escaping  from  mine  own  control, 
As  if  a  fever  waned,  and  opiate  balm 
Were  running  through  my  veins !    The  gates  of 

hell 

Are  open  to  the  morning,  to  the  spell 
Of  the  chill  dewy  glades.    They  breathe  such  calm 
As  heaven's  garden  knew,  when  evening  fell 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  23 

In  gold  and  purple,  and  each  conscious  flower 
Blest  God,  and  inly  felt  its  sister  sing 
Inaudibly  the  praises  of  the  spring. 

HERMES 
Is't  Lucifer  ? 

TUREL 

Ay,  many  an  hour 

He  thus  discourseth  to  the  random  wind 
Of  things  I  know  not.     Only,  to  my  mind, 
His  voice  is  changed. 

LUCIFER  (above) 

It  were  a  wondrous  thing 
If  once  again  the  womb  of  ancient  night 
Were  big  with  being,  and  a  giant  came 
A  rival  to  the  other.     Oh,  the  fight, 
The  victory,  the  fallen  tyrant's  shame  ! 

HERMES 

He  plots  revenge. 

LUCIFER  (as  before) 

He  hath  a  wondrous  charm, 
A  gentle  hand,  warm,  made  to  touch  a  friend's, 


24  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

A  well-born,  open  spirit,  that  attends 

To  others'  words,  a  young  god's  strength  of  arm, 

The  inward  smile  of  them  that  know  no  harm. 

HERMES 

He  speaks  of  me.     'Tis  me  that  he  intends. 
I  cannot  doubt  it. 

LUCIFER 

There  should  be  no  more  pain, 
And  I,  in  that  republic  of  the  just 
Might  live  from  day  to  day  in  peace,  a-nd  trust 
That  life,  although  mysterious,  was  not  vain. 

HERMES 
Hearest  thou  well  ?     What  saith  he  ? 

TUREL 

Sir,  I  hear 

But  may  not  understand  his  sacred  word. 

HERMES 

Will  he  say  more  ? 

TUREL 
Methinks  he  will,  anon. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  25 

HERMES 

Come  hither,  little  page.     For  many  a  year 
Thou  followest  Lucifer,  and  thou  hast  heard 
His  daily  musings. 

TUREL 

I  have  gone 

Where  he  has  led  me,  since  the  heaven's  birth, 
Even  to  this  cold  island  of  the  north 
Where,  sir,  you  find  us. 

HERMES 

'Tis  well;  thinkest  thou 
To  do  me  pleasure  he  would  journey  still 
And  let  me  follow  as  thou  followest  now  ? 

TUREL 

O  sir,  'tis  not  a  place  for  you  to  fill. 
You  are  too  rich.     The  nights  are  long  and  drear. 
He  speaks  but  little,  and  you  love  him  not. 
But  I,  if  you  should  rob  me  of  my  lot — 
If  you  have  any  pity,  do  not  do  it. 

HERMES 

But  would  he  go  if  I  should  put  him  to  it  ? 


26  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

TUREL 

He  would,  I  know.  Never  since  in  his  court 
The  six  archangels  gathered  round  his  throne, 
And  graciously  he  spoke  to  every  one 
Beautiful  words,  and  gave  and  took  report 
Of  all  their  doings — have  I  heard  him  greet 
Any  one  so,  or  ponder  so  his  word, 
As  he  doth  now  with  you.     'Tis  as  he  heard 
The  wide-eyed  Gabriel  singing. 

HERMES 

Run  with  joy. 

Run  where  he  loiters.     Tell   him  that  I  stand 

Waiting  to  beg  a  favour  at  his  hand 

But  fear  to  ask  it.     Run,  my  gentle  boy  ! 

(Exit  Turel,  'with  hesitation) 
HERMES  (taking  the  lyre,  sings:) 

'Twas  I  with  subtle  craft 
Contrived  you  first,  ye  docile  strings,  to  sound. 

'Twas  I  that  playing  found 
The  secret  of  your  little  souls,  and  laughed. 

Apollo  took  you  then, 
And  made  of  seven  strings  a  louder  lyre. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  27 

His  move  the  heavenly  choir 
My  three  suffice  to  rule  the  hearts  of  men. 

With  three  did  Orpheus  tame 
The  shaggy  lion  and  the  panther  wild, 

With  three  doth  Maia's  child 
Enchant  this  desert  whither  first  he  came. 

(Re-enter  Lucifer  and  Turel} 
LUCIFER 

Is  music  sweeter  to  my  friend  than  sleep  ? 

HERMES 

Nay,  music  is  a  slumber  of  the  soul 
That  rests  from  thinking. 

LUCIFER 

Is  thy  thought  so  deep  ? 
And  is  this  true,  thou  hast  a  boon  to  ask 
From  a  poor  hermit  of  the  frozen  pole  ? 

HERMES 

The  gods  have  laid  on  me  a  heavy  task — 

LUCIFER 
And  can  I  make  it  lighter  ? 


28  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

HERMES 

— to  explore 

The  sea  of  space,  and  every  luminous  isle 
That  in  its  waters  swims,  from  shore  to  shore, 
And  to  make  trial  of  what  secret  powers 
Might  lurk  in  Nature's  womb,  what  realms  stretch 

out 

Through  space,  beyond  this  twinkling  vault  of  ours. 
For  meditation  endeth  still  in  doubt. 
Upon  this  quest  I  started  when  the  gale 
Drove  me,  unwilling,  on  thy  rock. 

LUCIFER 

I  know. 

Wouldst  thou  look  farther  ?     Thou  dost  see  the 

vale  ; 

A  gorge  beneath  it  chokes  with  heavy  snow ; 
A  frozen  river,  like  time's  pulses  slow, 
Works  through  the  rock  its  hesitating  way. 
There  is  naught  else  to  see. 

HERMES 

It  is  not  that, 
For  to  the  gods  I  am  content  to  say 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  29 

On  what  sad  throne  so  sad  a  monarch  sat. 
That  is  enough  of  glory  for  one  day. 
But  if  again,  most  like,  they  send  me  forth 
Without  a  chart  and  with  the  feeble  oar 
Of  my  light  wing,  how  shall  I  breast  the  north 
Or  shun  the  straying  planets,  bright  no  more  ? 
Yet  if  beneath  the  cloak  and  mighty  arm 
Of  one  whose  eye  knows  every  cloudy  bar, 
I  then  should  fly,  I  should  be  safe  from  harm 
And  reach  the  haven  of  some  living  star. 

LUCIFER 

Where  wouldst  thou  go  ? 

HERMES 

I  know  not.     It  were  good 
To  look  upon  thy  vassals,  in  their  rude 
Abandonment,  and  see  their  savage  state, 
For  it  might  strengthen  us  in  fortitude 
To  know  how  bravely  they  endure  their  fate. 

LUCIFER 

O  generous  soul,  that  in  the  lost  in  hell 
Still  marks  a  virtue  ! 


30  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

HERMES 

I  should  mark  it  best 
Could  I  prevail  upon  thy  hand  to  guide  me. 

LUCIFER 

How  shouldst  thou  not?     'Tis  thine. 

(Holds  out  his  hand] 
HERMES  (taking  it) 

And  for  the  rest 
Wilt  thou  in  all  my  perils  stand  beside  me  ? 

LUCIFER 

Ay,  by  what  most  is  sacred  to  my  soul 

By  my  own  honour  and  thy  love  I  swear  it. 

All  that  is  mine  I  yield  to  thy  control. 

My  wings,  my  arms,  my  thought,  if  thou   canst 

bear  it, 

With  all  the  stars  that  in  their  courses  roll 
Obedient  unto  reason,  rule,  and  date. 
Time,  Hermes,  hath  reduced  to  one  estate 
Our  different  lives,  made  sweeter  that  we  share  it. 
Wanderer  by  nature  thou,  and  I  by  fate. 
Oh,  let  us  forth  !     My  joy  arriveth  late. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  31 

HERMES 

But  it  is  come  now  never  to  depart. 

LUCIFER 

Never  ?     O  let  us  shut  the  future  out, 

Lest  thought  should  poison  with  the  shaft  of  doubt 

The  happy  now  !    Would  I  could  trust  my  heart. 

HERMES 

Nay,  come  along. 

LUCIFER 

The  event  shall  show  the  truth. 
But,  Turel,  where  art  thou  ?  What  thinkest  thou  ? 

TUREL 

What  should  I  think,  my  lord  ? 

LUCIFER 

Unhappy  youth, 

Why  did  I  never  pity  thee  till  now  ? 
How  weary  have  these  watches  been  for  thee 
Serving  me  here  !     Thou  art  too  young  a  boy 
To  languish  in  this  desert. 


32  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

TUREL 

'Tis  my  joy, 
My  lord,  to  serve  you,  wheresoe'er  it  be. 

LUCIFER 

What  should  now  be  the  season  of  the  year  ? 

TUREL 
Methinks  it  should  be  spring. 

LUCIFER 

Canst  hear  the  birds  ? 

TUREL 
Birds  in  this  island  without  sedge  or  tree  ? 

LUCIFER 

They  now  are  singing  in  my  memory. 

HERMES 

Come,  come.  Waste  not  the  night  in  empty  words. 

LUCIFER 

Lucifer  comes.     Be  patient.     It  is  new 
For  Lucifer  to  smile  and  brook  command. 


ACT  I  LUCIFER  33 

I  scarce  believe  it.     Let  me  touch  thy  hand, 
Beautiful  angel !     Oh,  can  this  be  true  ? 
Do  I  obey  thee  ?      Have  I  vowed  a  vow  ? 
'Tis  wonderful  the  things  that  time  will  do. 
Turel,  thy  master  hath  a  master  now. 
We  must  away.  This  night  shall  have  its  dreams. 
Thou  shalt  behold  a  green  land,  watered  well, 
Where   large   white   swans   swim   in  the    lucent 

streams, 

And  bosky  thickets  where  the  harpy  screams, 
And  centaurs  scour  the  fields  of  asphodel, 
While  young  fauns   pluck  their  beards,  and  start 

away 

At  great  Pan's  feast  to  pipe  an  interlude. 
There  painted  dolphins  with  the  Nereids  play, 
Splashing  green  waves  for  rainbows  in   the  spray. 
And  friendly  poets,  straying  thro'  the  wood, 
Lay  finger  on  the  mouth,  to  watch  askance 
How  in  wild  ring  the  nymphs  and  satyrs  dance. 
Wouldst  thou  not  go  ? 

TUREL 
'Tis  as  my  master  wills. 


34  LUCIFER  ACT  I 

LUCIFER 

Ay,  ay,  make  ready. 

(Looks  about) 

Sad  familiar  hills 

For  how  long  do  I  leave  you  ?     Not  for  ever. 
A  voice  of  inward  warning  tells  me  so. 
Forget  ye  not  my  voice.     Your  silence  fills 
My  spirit  always;  no,  I  cannot  sever 
The  bond  that  binds  me  to  your  sunless  snow. 
But  farewell  for  a  season.     Far  I  go, 
Far,  tho'  I  know  not  wh'ither,  for  the  breath 
Of  life  is  on  me,  or  the  hand  of  death. 

(Exeunt) 


ACT  SECOND 

THE  GARDEN  OF  THE  HESPERIDES.     THE  SEA  BEHIND. 
LUCIFER.     MEPHISTOPHELES. 

LUCIFER 

Yes,  I  will  go  to-night.     Too  long  it  is 
Since  I  have  seen  my  friends. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

It  is  indeed, 
But  you  were  busy. 

LUCIFER 

Ay,  with  thoughts  that  feed 
Upon  an  idle  heart.    Nought's  gone  amiss 
In  my  long  absence  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Nothing.     All  's  as  well 
As  when  you  were  among  us. 

35 


36  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

LUCIFER 

That  is  good. 

I  sometimes  wondered  in  my  solitude 
If  they  had  need  of  me. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  cannot  tell. 

It  hath  been  noted  that  you  were  not  there, — 
Reasons,  perhaps,  assigned, — false,   as   I  think, — 
As  that  you  loved  us  not,  or  your  despair 
Of  governing  our  wills,  or  that  some  link 
Of  pure  affection  kept  you  bound  elsewhere, 
Like  fond  Ulysses  in  Calypso's  isle. 
But  need  of  you,  precisely,  no  one  had. 

LUCIFER 

Calypso's  isle  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Ah,  ah  !     I  see  you  smile. 
I  am  most  glad  to  note  it.      It  is  bad 
Never  to  smile  ;  and  you  were  once  too  sad. 


LUCIFER 
Perhaps  I  was. 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  37 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

If  you  will  come  to-night 

'Twere  well  to  start.     We  have  a  longish  flight 
To  our  good  cavern. 

LUCIFER 

Not  yet.     It  is  not  late. 

Hermes,  perhaps,  will  come  to-day.     'Tis  soon, 
But  he  was  not  to  loiter.     I  will  wait 
Until  the  sun  is  down. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

'Tis  after  noon 
Already. 

LUCIFER 

Oh,  there's  time.     If  he  arrives, 
I'll  take  him  with  me.     On  no  better  day 
Could  he  observe  the  wildness  of  our  lives 
Than  when  the  warders  of  our  rocky  nest 
Welcome  me  back. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Indeed,  I  think  they  ought. 


38  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

LUCIFER 

Dost  thou  know,  Mephistopheles,  the  thought 
Of  what  the  world  was,  when  I  knew  it  best 
And  found  some  solace  in  it,  has  been  brought 
By  Hermes'  converse  back ;  and  now  I  see 
Why  losing  relish  for  my  wandering  life, 
Since  Christ  was  born,  I  left  the  world  to  thee 
And  to  thy  demons  ?     For  then  lies  grew  rife, 
Thought  lost  jts  freedom^grief  its  majesty. 
Since  thefast  zealot  from  their  altar  hurled 
The  smiling  gods  and  fled  into  his  den, 
Reason  has  been  an  exile  in  the  world, 
And  beauty  but  a  pilgrim  among  men. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

And  now  they  will  move  on  and  visit  hell, 
Where  you  will  dwell  with  Hermes.      But  I  think 
I  see  him  coming. 

LUCIFER 

Ah! 

(Goes  to  the  back) 
(Enter  Hermes) 


ACT  II  LUCIFER 


39 


MEPHISTOPHELES  (apart) 

A  lovers'  meeting. 

Tears,  perhaps.     Oh^  to  what  the  proud  will  sink 
Whenj^hqjr  tijrn  comes  I    Let  me   not  view  their 

greeting 

Lest  I  should  blush.     No,  I  will  look  away 
Like  a  duenna. 

HERMES 
See,  I  came  to-day. 

LUCIFER 

I  was  expecting  thee. 

HERMES 

The  many  things 

I  have  to  tell  thee  have  made  light  my  wings. 
Shall  I  speak  here  ? 

LUCIFER 

Oh,  surely.     Thou  mayst  say 
All  that  thou  wilt.     'Tis  Mephistopheles 
Of  whom  I  told  thee. 


40  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

HERMES 

That  his  wit  is  keen 

His  face  gives  token.     But  the  glade  is  green 
Beneath  the  arching  of  these  ancient  trees. 
If  we  walk  there  we  shall  be  more  at  ease. 

(Exeunt) 
MEPHISTOPHELES 

So  soon  dislikes  me  ?     Features  will  belie 
The  best  of  men.     Only  a  jackanapes 
Judges  men's  spirit  by  their  outer  shapes, 
Not  he  that  knows  the  world.     But  I  must  try 
To  please  this  humming-bird,  since  what  he  chirps 
Lucifer  thunders. — Lucifer  and  I, 
Compare  us.     What  hath  he,  that  he  usurps 
The  kingdom  over  me  ?     The  right  divine, 
God  once  appointed  him  !  Xhough  ever  since 
He  hath  done  nothing  he  must  still  be  prince. 
I  have  done  all.     The  work,  the  skill  are  mine. 
Why  not  the  honour  ?     He  may  live  abroad 
Pampering  his  lordly  lusts,  until  the  whim 
Of  his  last  darling  makes  him  think  of  God 
And  think  of  us.     Then  all  must  run  to  him 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  41 

And  hail  him  master. — Yet  I  need  not  dread 
His  meddling  now.     The  hellish  rage  is  fled, 
Out_of  his  eyes.     In  soft  delicious  climes 
He   must   pluck  flowers  and  weep   and   murmur 

rhymes 

To  his  young  love.     He  finds  a  mossy  bed 
Beneath  great  oaks  and  sleeps  and  dreams — who 

knows  ? — 

Of  the  white  limbs  of  nymphs  among  the  trees 
Spied  as  he  walks,  to  meditate  his  woes, 
Near  where  they  bathe  at  noon.     Strange  changes 

these. 

He  is  all  charity.     He  stops  and  heeds 
The  clownish  minstrelsy  that  drowns  the  reeds 
Of  some  lewd  grinning  faun.     He  lifts  his  eyes 
To  see  the  naiads  rising  from  the  weeds 
Startled  by  him — rapt  poet — as  he  hies 
To  parley  with  the  waves  and  gather  hints 
At  sunset  from  the  cloudlets'  speckled  tints. 
But  can  this  last  ?     A  month,  perhaps,  or  two, 
Not  more.     For  he  has  seen  the  face  of  God, 
And  dreams  are  dreams.     Awake,  what  will  he  do? 
He's  a  proud  fool  and  will  be  fooled  anew 


42  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

Not  to  confess  his  folly.     It  were  odd 

Yet  like  his  whims,  if  he  should  carry  through 

The  monstrous  comedy.     How  I  should  laugh 

To  see  him  play  the  lover,  scene  by  scene, 

And  kneel  at  last  before  the  Nazarene  ! 

It  yet  may  come  to  that.     We  are  but  chaff, 

Light,  light  in  any  wind. — The  issue  is  : 

Master  I  am  and  master  must  remain 

In  the  good  pit  of  hell. — They  come  again 

Let  us  take  note  of  their  sweet  reveries. 

(He  hides  in  the  wood) 

(Re-enter  Lucifer  and  Hermes) 
HERMES 

Yes,  when  I  told  them  of  the  thousand  spires 
Thou  show'dst  me  glittering  in  that  fair  half-light, 
They  marvelled  much ;  and  Zeus,  much  wrought, 

requires 

That  I  go  back,  and  in  adventurous  flight 
Inspect  those  bastions. 

LUCIFER 

Ah,  not  now,  to-night 
I  thought  to  take  thee  to  the  cave  of  hell 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  43 

To  a  strange  banquet.     With  carouse  and  song 
They  welcome  me,  withdrawn  from  them  so  long. 
It  is  a  wild  fantastic  spectacle 
To  make  thee  wonder. 

HERMES 

It  would  please  me  well, 
But  from  my  father's  soul  the  dread  of  wars 
Hath  banished  sleep.     I  am  his  herald.     Thou, 
I  know  wilt  guide  me,  though  it  be  not  now, 
Into  the  region  of  those  viewless  stars 
That  I  may  do  his  bidding. 

LUCIFER 

Thou  hast  seen 
The  place  already. 

HERMES 

But  I  must  once  more 
To  better  purpose,  for  that  day  I  bore 
No  messages  from  Zeus. 

LUCIFER 

What  dost  thou  mean  ? 


44  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

HERMES 

That  coming  to  the  presence  of  that  King 
I  am  to  say:  "  O  Lord  of  Hosts,  I  bring 
Greeting  from  Zeus.     He  never  knew  before 
Thy  dwelling-place,  else  had  he  long  ago 
Sent  me  to  thee  with  gifts,  for  it  is  well 
For  kings  to  live  in  friendship.'* 

LUCIFER 

Dost  thou  know 

What  thou  art  saying  ?     Is  it  possible 
That  I  should  take  thee  to  my  dearest  foe 
To  sue  for  his  good  favour  ? 

HERMES 

But  to  hell 

I  will  come  also,  seeking  other  things. 
I  have  no  horror  of  the  nether  gloom 
Nor  it  of  me.    Though  kings  must  deal  with  kings, 
Yet  friends  will  follow  friends  to  any  doom. 

LUCIFER 

Ah,  Hermes,  it  were  ill  to  follow  me 
Whom  all  ill  follows,  and  the  mockery 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  45 

Of  those  I  love. — What  thou  dost  ask  is  hard, 
Exceeding  hard  the  passage  of  that  gate, 
And  I  walk  never  through  it.     With  strong  hate 
And  iron  sorrow  it  is  sealed  and  barred. 

HERMES 

Thou  needest  not  to  come,  then.     I  will  dare 
To  go  alone. 

LUCIFER 
But  I  have  made  a  vow. 

HERMES 

That  is  fulfilled  if  thou  dost  guide  me  there 
With  prudent  counsel. 

LUCIFER 

Dearest  friend,  what  care, 

What  joy,  what  hope,  what  grief  can  touch  me  now 
Save  only  thine  ?     I  prize  thy  valiant  soul 
That  lays  before  the  truth  thy  bosom  bare, 
And  bids  her  strike,  though  she  have  strength  to  kill. 
Thou  growest  like  me.     Yes,  I  will  unroll 
The  whole  world  to  thine  eyes ;  and  yet  I  feel 


46  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

Some  strange  misgiving,  some  prophetic  grief 
To  think  of  thee  in  heaven.     Thou  must  steel 
Thy  heart  against  temptation  and  in  brief 
Return  to  me.      But,  oh,  of  that  return 
What  dim  forebodings  haunt  me,  what  deep  dread 
Of  utter  loss,  as  if  I  saw  thee  dead  ! 
Hence,  evil  omen,  do  not  make  me  stern 
For  I  believe  thee  not. 

HERMES 

Thou  art  distraught. 
I  am  immortal  as  the  earth  and  sky 
By  whose  pure  life  I  live.      Bring  back  thy  thought 
To  things  in  reason. 

LUCIFER 
Thou  shouldst  never  die. 

HERMES 

Tell  me  the  way  and  I  alone  will  fly 
To  that  high  citadel.     Its  crested  walls 
Will  not  refuse  the  herald  some  reply. 
I  see  that  to  revisit  it  appalls 
Thy  wounded  soul. 


ACT  II  LUCIFER 


47 


LUCIFER 

And  yet  I  shook  it,  I 

Whom  it  could  never  shake.    No  path  leads  there, 
Nor   Aquilo   nor  Notus  blows  from  thence, 
Nor  fills  it  any  region  of  the  air. 
By  thought  alone  in  its  omnipotence 
We  come  to  God. — But  I  may  have  thee  led, 
Good  Mephistopheles — 

MEPHISTOPHELES  (aside) 

What's  this  I  hear  ? 

LUCIFER 

Goes  thither.    He  will  guide  thee  in  my  stead. 


HERMES 

I  care  not. 


MEPHISTOPHELES  (aside) 

Thank  you.     That  is  kindly  said. 

HERMES 

Where  is  he,  then  ?     Methought  he  loitered  near, 
I  must  speak  with  him  of  my  embassy. 


48  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

LUCIFER 

Ho  !  Mephistopheles  ! 

MEPHISTOPHELES  (within) 

What !  here  again  ? 

LUCIFER 
Come  hither,  pray. 

MEPHISTOPHELES  (aside) 

Now  they  have  need  of  me, 
They  like  me  well  enough. 

LUCIFER 

I  called  to  thee 

To  tell  thee  of  a  charge  thou  must  sustain 
For  love  of  me  and  Hermes.      He  would  fain 
Visit  Jehovah's  city  to  deliver 
A  message  from  high  Zeus.     To  spare  me  pain 
In  seeing  all  that  I  have  lost  for  ever — 
Thou  wilt  conduct  him. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

When  is  this  to  be  ? 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  49 

HERMES 

To-morrow,  pray.     I  must  not  lengthen  out 
My  father's  trouble.     For  he  lives  in  doubt. 

LUCIFER 

To-morrow  then.     Let  me  commend  to  thee 
His  safety  and  success.     The  thing  is  new 
Which  he  attempts  and  hazardous  to  do. 
Use  good  words  first,  but  if  the  Porter  frown, 
Push  to  the  gates,  for  they  should  let  him  through 
Who  hath  no  sin.     Guide  him  and  set  him  down 
Before  the  throne,  thyself  removed  a  space, 
And  let  him  speak,  and  let  the  King  reply. 
Say  not  a  word  thyself,  but  still  stand  by 
To  lead  him,  when  he  wishes,  from  the  place. 
When  thou  hast  past  the  cloud-bar,  look  for  me, 
And  I  will  take  him  from  thy  hands,  and  see 
That  for  this  service  thou  hast  ample  grace. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  humbly  thank  you.     Such  fair  company 
Will  be  reward  enough.     Here  at  this  gate 
I  meet  him  in  the  morning. 


50  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

-    HERMES 

At  the  dawn 
I  shall  not  fail.  , 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Nor  shalt  thou  need  to  wait. 
Come  now,  my  lord.     The  sun  is  set.     'Tis  late. 

LUCIFER 

Go  thou  before.     My  absence  hath  withdrawn 
The  single  check,  perhaps,  their  license  had 
In  my  poor  kingdom.     Go  thou  and  proclaim 
My  coming,  lest  what  should  have  made  them  glad 
Should,  ill  prepared  for,  cover  them  with  shame 
And  my  first  word  of  greeting  turn  to  blame. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  go,  sweet  Prince,  to  make  thy  welcome  such 
That  thou  shalt  better  judge  our  loyalty. 

(Exit  Mephistopheles) 
LUCIFER 

I  do  them  wrong,  perhaps;  to  doubt  too  much 
Has  been  my  weakness.     Thou  must  bear  with  me. 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  51 

But  come,  my  Hermes.     Let  us  now  begin 
Our  flight  together.     All  hell's  shouts  and  din 
Will  seem  sweet  music  to  me.     At  thy  side, 
Blest  in  thy  love,  I  shall  grow  strong  in  pride 
And  deem  not  their  calamity  my  sin. 

HERMES 

Alas,  it  cannot  be  to-night,  I  fear. 
Beside  the  midland  sea  expired  a  seer 
At  point  of  sunset ;  facile,  happy  sage, 
Lover  of  reason  in  a  fevered  age, 
He  lived  apart,  and  his  thought's  jewel  clear 
Set  in  the  wrought  gold  of  a  perfect  page. 
Dying,  he  thought  not  of  the  Nazarene, 
Nor  his  own  sins,  but  of  the  gentle  god 
That  to  the  mansions  of  the  dead  serene 
Shepherded  shadows  with  a  winged  rod, 
And  a  deep  sigh  to  join  those  blessed  souls 
Was  his  last  breath.     I  hear  his  voice,  for  prayer, 
Even  unuttered,  knows  no  bounds  of  air, 
Nor  time,  nor  opposition  of  the  poles. 
I  go  to  lead  his  spirit  in  my  ways, 
To  wash  his  wounds  of  life  in  Lethe's  stream, 


52  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

And  bind  his  brow  with  cool  ambrosial  bays, 
That  with  the  blameless  ghosts  of  better  days 
Smiling  he  walks  in  an  eternal  dream. 
This  piety  performed,  I  shall  be  free 
But  am  not  now. 

LUCIFER 

Ah  !     Come  then  after  me. 
The  way  is  easy  for  one  light  of  wing, 
And  cannot  well  be  missed.     Our  revelry 
Once  started  knows  nor  dawn  nor  evening, 
And  thou  hast  time  for  all.     Above  the  sea, 
Along  the  breakers  and  the  desert  sands, 
Fly  to  the  south.     Heed  not  the  marshy  lea, 
Pestiferous,  havenless,  dark  jungle  lands, 
Nor  heed  the  barren  islands,  single  rocks, 
That  brave  that  sullen  ocean.     But  dart  on 
To  where  the  Antarctic  ice,  like  mountains,  locks 
The  waters  in.     Dart  on,  till  at  the  pole 
Thou  see  a  black  unfathomable  lake 
Lapped  in  foul  snow,  where  many  a  fiery  flake 
And  falling  cinder  burns  its  sputtering  hole. 
There,  in  the  water's  midst,  a  mighty  rock 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  53 

Belches  volcanic  fumes.    -Its  spongy  sides 
Are  fretted  into  caves,  and  there  a  flock 
Of  bat-like  demons  circles,  peeps,  and  hides 
Like  bees  about  a  hive.     If  they  should  mock, 
Disdain  their  chatter.     They  are  cowards  all 
And  the  mere  glance  of  thy  divinity 
Will  scatter  them  like  gnats.      Girdle  the  wall 
Of  that  steep  mountain  till  above  the  wave 
Thou  see  the  triple  yawning  of  a  cave. 
There  is  the  gate  into  our  sombre  hall, 
And  there  thou  shalt  be  welcomed  by  some  brave 
And  trusty  officer. 

HERMES 

Behold,  the  night 

Begins  to  gather.     Mournful  Acheron 
Summons  me  now.     But  I  will  come  anon. 

LUCIFER 
Thou  wilt  not  fail  ? 

HERMES 

So  wonderful  a  sight 
Would  tempt  me  farther.     I  must  now  begone. 

(Exit) 


54  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

LUCIFER 

Farewell;  and  may  the  good  thou  goest  to  do 

Make  thee  more  blessed.     Oh,  how  far  from  me 

Are  all  his  thoughts  !     To  him  the  world  is  true, 

And  in  his  fair  divine  simplicity 

He  deems  his  virtue  all.     He  is  a  boy. 

If  he  swims  well,  or  answers  riddles  well, 

Or  knows  the  winds  well   why  should  conscience 

clog 

His  young  blood's  current,  or  truth  blight  his  joy? 
His  life  is  heaven.     And  my  life  is  hell. 
Because  I  know.     O  poisonous  alloy 
Of  reason  in  me,  quickening  the  heart 
With  all  the  sorrows  of  the  universe 
To  futile  anger  !      Undeserved  curse 
That  will  not  let  me  live  or  have  my  part 
In  joy  with  all  the  world  !     I  cast  thee  out. 
I  wash  myself  quite  clean  of  thee.     Begone  ! 
Speak  not  to  me  of  evil.     There  is  none, 
For  I  am  happy.     Tell  me  not  of  doubt 
For  I  behold  the  splendour  of  the  sun 
And  feel  the  sinews  of  my  body  strong 
To  prove  my  faith.     And  murmur  not  of  wrong 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  55 

Or  of  false  gods  again.     What's  done  is  done. 

How  should  I  change  it  ? — Here  Heracles  of  old 

Ended  his  labours  and  to  Atlas  gave 

Again  the  weight  of  heaven.     He  was  brave, 

Yet  from  these  boughs  he  plucked  the  ripened  gold, 

Rejoicing  in  that  little  prize.     Behold, 

A  second  hero  treads  your  hallowed  glades, 

Daughters  of  Hesper.      From  a  greater  strife 

His  spirit  passes  to  your  charmed  life. 

Welcome  me,  sisters.     Let  your  ancient  shades 

Favour  my  slumber.      Hark,  the  pleasant  sound 

Of  your  green  leafage  whispers,  holy  maids, 

Your  pieties  to  me.     Here  is  the  spot 

Where  I  will  live.      Here  I  will  choose  my  lot 

With  your  fair  silvan  presences  around 

And  my  great  peace  with  things.  I  made  them  not. 

From  such  an  Eden  once  I  tempted  men 

To  evil  fortunes.     Here  the  apple  hangs, 

By  Lethe  watered,  that  might  still  their  pangs 

And  bring  them  peace  at  last.    I  take  thee,  then, 

Fair  gift  of  nature. 

(Plucks  an  apple) 

Nourish  me  with  joy. 
Run,  run,  thou  pleasing  poison  thro'  my  brain 


56  LUCIFER  ACT  II 

And  make  me  happy,  like  that  innocent  boy 
That  smiles,  wide-eyed,  upon  a  world  of  pain. 
Do  lions  sleep  not,  because  sins  abound  ? 
Are  eagles  pensive  for  the  griefs  of  men  ? 
Do  the  fair  gods  upon  Olympus  crowned 
Pity  the  world  ?     The  devils  in  their  den 
Make  merry,  and  forget  the  wrath  of  heaven. 
Nay,  God  himself,  who  saith  he  died  for  all, 
Remembers  not  his  myriad  unforgiven 
Children  in  hell,  nor  all  the  worms  that  crawl 
Through  suffering  to  death.     Must  I  alone 
Cry  JUSTICE^?  _Jjdone  renounce^thg  wrong  ? 
LucifeTjJLuc^^  strong 

Onlyjto  suffer  ?     Live,  and  take  thine  own. 
Thou  Morning  Star,  shine  forth  !   Shine  forth  again 
In  the  pale  Orient,  Herald  of  the  Day  ! 
Haply  some  shepherd,  watching  for  thy  ray, 
Will  at  thy  brightening  glow  beguile  his  pain 
And  lie  down  comforted.     Resume  thy  reign. 
Behold  the  altar  of  thy  heart  relumes 
Its  ancient  fire,  and  through  the  pulsing  vein 
The  warm  blood  mounts.  Again  thy  beauty  blooms; 
Again  the  iris  glitters  in  thy  plumes 


ACT  II  LUCIFER  57 

Outspread  to  heaven.     Hermes  shall  not  shrink 
Except  in  awe  before  thee ;  thy  caress 
Shall  be  his  pride  hereafter.     He  shall  think 
Thou  comest  not  to  serve  him,  but  to  bless 
With  glorious  apparition  and  excess 
Of  supernatural  light.     Depart,  depart 
From  mine  immortal  beauty,  blight  of  care. 
O  Lucifer,  dishonour  not  thy  heart 
Though  it  be  dead.      Remember  who  thou  art 
And  with  thy  glory  cover  thy  despair. 


ACT  THIRD 

HELL.     SUBTERRANEOUS  HALL,  WITH  A  GREAT  HEARTH, 
DEVILS  AND  WITCHES. 

FIRST  DEVIL  (Sings) 

Blow,  bellows,  blow 
Till  the  red  coals  glow 
And  the  cauldron  simmer. 

Aho!  Aho! 
This  work  is  slow. 
Blow,  bellows,  blow 
And,  flamelets,  glimmer. 

CHORUS 

Blow,  bellows,  blow  ! 
Aho!  Aho! 

FIRST  DEVIL 

Blow,  bellows,  blow, 
For  without  is  snow* 

58 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  59 

And  rain  and  drizzle. 

Aho  !  Aho  ! 
The  fire  burns  low. 
Blow,  bellows,  blow 
And,  kettle,  sizzle. 

CHORUS 

Blow,  bellows,  blow  ! 
Aho  !  Aho  ! 

(Enter  Mephistopheles) 
MEPHISTOPHELES 

Ho !  worthy  matrons,  what's  there  fit  for  food  ? 

FIRST  WITCH 

There's  goat's  flesh  broth,  my  lord,  and  micklegood. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Go  kill  a  heifer  or  a  swine  at  least. 

I  met  his  highness  walking  in  a  wood, 

He  eyed  me  so,  in  melancholy  mood, 

And  said  :  "  I  come  to-day.     Prepare  a  feast." 

SEVERAL  VOICES 

What !  What !     The  Prince  is  coming  ? 


60  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Coming  soon. 

SECOND  WITCH 

Then  I  must  fetch  the  silver  bowl  and  spoon. 

(Exit) 
SECOND  DEVIL 

I'll  stick  the  pig.     I've  a  sharp,  sharp  sword. 

(Exit) 
FIRST  DEVIL 

Give  me  the  key  to  the  wine,  my  lord. 

(Sings) 

For  tho*  we  drink  but  stalish  beer 
The  Prince  must  quaff  canary  clear — 
And,  pray,  my  lord,  let  go  my  ear. 

(Exit) 
FIRST  WITCH  (Sings) 

I  will  trim  the  lamp, 
For  the  cave  is  dark. 

SECOND  WITCH  (sings) 

It  is  dark  and  damp. 
I  will  fetch  a  log 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  61 

With  a  good  dry  bark. 
Oh,  the  merry  blaze  and  the  crackling  spark ! 

THIRD  WITCH  (sings) 

I  will  cut  a  spit 
That  they  roast  the  hog 
As  is  right  and  fit 
When  his  Highness  is  coming  to  taste  of  it. 

CHORUS 

Flit,  comrades,  flit, 
And  show  your  wit, 
And  make  good  cheer; 
For  the  Devil  is  coming  to  supper  here. 

(Exeunt  dancing) 
MEPHISTOPHELES  (looking  about) 

Where  is  the  sly  minx  hiding  ?     I  come  weary 
And  all  this  howling  rabble  needs  must  din 
Their  ribald  nonsense  in  mine  ears  ;  she  only 
Is  gone  who  hath  some  spark  of  understanding 
And  the  rare  gift  to  please  me.  Where's  she  gone  ? 
Hist,  gossip,  hist ! 

(Enter  another  Witch) 


62  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

WITCH 

Doth  my  lord  call  ?     Alack, 
How  long  an  absence  !     But  how  doth  my  lord  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

111,  very  ill.     Business  and  state  affairs 

Fill  my  head  full.     But  I  am  still  a  man, 

Ay,  hussy,  still  a  man.     For  all  they  say 

I'm  lean  and  sour,  I  relish  my  rank  pleasures 

Even  as  the  keenest  rascal  of  them  all. 

Heugh  !     But  your  burgher's  wives  are  fat  and 

heavy, 

Dull,  artless,  like  so  many  grunting  sows — 
Who's  there?     Who  comes  ? 

WITCH 
We  are  alone,  sweet  lord. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

By  the  cold  blasts  of  hell !     Hence  quickly,  go  ! 
They  must  not  see  me  thus.     It  is  a  weakness 
I  am  not  thought  to  have. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  63 

WITCH 

Nay,  no  one  comes. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  heard  a  step.     Yes,  listen.     Voices  too. 
'Tis  mad  Azazel  and  besotted  Belial 
Reasoning  together.     Quickly,  till  to-night. 

(Exit  witch) 
(Enter  Azazel  and  Belial) 

AZAZEL  (to  Mephistopheles) 

Alone  and  melancholy  ?     Have  you  caught 
The  Prince's  malady  ? 

BELIAL 
Nought's  wrong,  I  hope. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  was  impatiently  awaiting  you. 
Strange  signs  of  disaffection  to  the  Prince 
Spread  through  the  people.     Much  will  be  to  do 
To  keep  them  down.     If  they  receive  him  ill 
'Tis  we  shall  bear  the  blame. 


64  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

BELIAL 

What  ?      Disaffection  ? 

You  make  me  wonder  at  your  words.    I  thought 
I  read  delight  upon  their  honest  faces 
To  hear  he  came  to-night. 

AZAZEL 

Yes.     They  are  fools. 

They  gladly  sweat,  though  they  love  idleness 
And  scrape  them  clean,  although  their  natural  dirt 
Keeps  them  as  warm  as  any  monkey's  hair, 
All  in  the  Prince's  honour.     Know  you  why  ? 
He  feeds  them  not,  he  helps  them  not,  nor  loves 

them  ; 

No,  but  he  reigns.     That's  argument  enough 
For  loyalty  of  fools. 

BELIAL 

'Fore  God,  'tis  true. 

He  has  no  stomach  for  our  brave  designs. 
All  day  he  walketh  by  the  sounding  shore 
That  hems  the  skirts  of  Atlas  and  the  world, 
Discoursing  to  the  light  clouds  and  the  winds 
That  cannot  hear  his  words.     I'll  swear  he's  mad. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  65 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

You  do  him  wrong.      He  keeps  a  pupil  there, 
None  else  than  Hermes,  to  discourse  to  now. 
And  such  sage  lessons  !     I  have  heard  him  ape 
Your  speech  and  paint  your  manners  to  his  friend 
Like  a  true  poet. 

BELIAL 
What  ?      He  mocks  us,  eh  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

In  truth  of  you,  my  friend,  he  hardly  speaks 
Except  to  say  :  cc  And  there's  a  fellow,  Belial, 
Among  my  lackeys  hath  such  want  of  wit 
He  keeps  the  rest  a-laughing.     Wine  helps,  too, 
For  that's  an  essence  kindles  sluggish  brains, 
And  he  is  ever  drunk." 

BELIAL 

The  damned  liar  ! 
His  lackey,  too. 

MEPHISTOPHELES  (to  Azazel) 

Of  you,  my  friend,  he  drew 
A  fairer  picture. 


66  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

AZAZEL 

Yes,  he  ever  praised 

My  worth,  I  know,  but  coupled  with  soft  words 
No  fit  rewards  of  honour. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

He  is  proud, 

And  doubtless  envy  of  your  greater  merit 
Held  back  his  hand.     And  envy,  too,  methinks, 
Prompted  the  gibes — for  what  could  prompt  them 

else — 

I  heard  him  chatter  to  the  laughing  god, 
As  when  he  said  :  "  These  men  of  noble  blood 
When  their  ambition  makes  them  serve  the  mob 
Sink  to  their  master's  level,  heart  and  soul. 
Azazel  once  was  noble  ;  see  him  now  ! 
He  knows  not  truth,  nor  his  own  bosom's  thought, 
But  what  the  fickle  rabble  crave  to  hear 
That  he  says  first  and  then  believes  outright. 
He  mouths  a  part  and,  as  bad  players  use, 
Feels  what  he  feigns  and  doth  himself  abuse." 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  67 

AZAZEL 

The  tyrant's  impudence  !     The  people's  will 
Guides  me  in  all. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

O  wondrous  policy ! 

AZAZEL 

He  scorned  us  always  and  betrays  us  now, 
And  under  Hermes'  guidance  makes  again 
A  covenant  with  heaven. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

As  for  that 

'Tis  harmless  trifling.     Metaphysical  air 
Has  ever  been  the  pasture  of  his  soul. 
The  braying  conclave  of  the  saints  will  grant  him 
A  doctor's  title,  if  his  logic  prove 
How  erring  Nature  is  fulfilled  by  Grace, 
With  thrice  three  hundred  clinching  arguments. 

BELIAL 

I  never  more  will  serve  him.     Why,  I  swear, 
I  never  quite  perceived  the  thing  till  now ; 


68  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

But  he's  a  brain-sick  dreamer  and  no  chief 
For  us,  a  parcel  of  good  honest  fellows 
Who  brave  the  gusts  of  chance. 

AZAZEL 

Whom  shall  we  serve 
Who  have  not  wit  enough  to  serve  ourselves  ? 

BELIAL 

Tut,  Mephistopheles,  we'll  make  thee  Prince. 

AZAZEL 

We  can  debate  hereafter  upon  that. 
There  will  be  time  enough.     We  can  do  nothing 
While  Lucifer  is  with  us,  for  his  presence 
Will  cast  a  spell  around. 

BELIAL 

Then  keep  him  out. 

AZAZEL 
We  should  first  choose  another  lerder. 

BELIAL 

Why, 
Here  is  the  noble  Mephistopheles. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  69 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Do  you  trust  me  ? 

(He  brings  them  forward) 

Hear  my  plan. 

He  will  bring  his  friend  to-night 
To  sup  with  him.     His  delight 
Never  was  among  his  clan. 
But  our  foolish  custom's  ban 
Keeps  from  this  benighted  cave 
Every  stranger,  god  or  man. 
Therefore  when  fat  Hermes,  grave, 
With  wide  unperceiving  eyes 
And  curled  shock  entwined  with  flowers, 
Startles  this  grim  pit  of  ours, 
Raise,  my  friends,  loud,  piercing  cries  : 
Treason!  "Treason  !     The  surprise 
Helps  us,  for  like  senseless  fire 
Through  the  mob  contagion  flies — 
Seize  them,  ere  the  tide  retire, 
Cast  them  out  and  let  them  go. 
Meanwhile  I  will  plainly  show 
To  the  people  gaping  here 
The  great  ills  they  had  to  fear, 


70  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

From  which  we  have  saved  them  so. 
They  will  raise  a  drunken  cheer. 
Lucifer  may  freely  then 
Dwell  among  his  gods  and  men 
For  twelve  months  of  every  year. 
Now  what  say  you,  friends  ? 

AZAZEL  AND  BELIAL 

Amen. 

(Exeunt) 

(A  bell  tolls.     The  devils  and  witches  re-enter  with  utensils  and 
lay  the  tables,  dancing  and  singing) 

FIRST  DEVIL 

I  hear  the  great  bell 
That  with  merry  knell 
Wakes  the  fiends  that  dwell 
In  the  breast  of  the  teeming  earth. 

SECOND  DEVIL 

I  hear  the  great  bell 
And  I  sniff  the  smell 
That  I  love  full  well 
Of  a  roast  on  the  roaring  hearth. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  71 

FIRST  WITCH 

I  hear  the  great  bell 
And  its  changes  tell 
That  the  Prince  of  Hell 
Is  the  guest  of  our  seldom  mirth. 

CHORUS 

I  hear  the  great  bell. 
Let  its  merry  knell 
Wake  all  fiends  that  dwell 
In  the  breast  of  the  teeming  earth. 

(Re-enter  Azazel  and  Belial) 
AZAZEL 

Think  you,  Belial, 
The  double-minded  Mephistopheles 
Could  rule  us  long  ?      He  scorns  and  loathes  us 

more 

Than  Lucifer  himself,  and  were  he  Prince 
Would  be  detested  for  his  tyrannies 
As  for  his  mockeries  he  is  hated  now. 
What  ?     See  you  not  that  he  is  all  compact 
Of  malice,  envy,  and  hypocrisy  ? 


72  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

His  avarice  will  grind  the  people  down, 
And  his  insufferable  taunts  will  kindle 
Their  hatred  to  rebellion. 

BELIAL 

How  now,  man  ? 

You  urged  me  first  to  rise  against  the  Prince, 
And  would  you  now  restore  my  loyalty  ? 
Nay,  that  you  shall  not,  for  my  mind  is  fixed. 

AZAZEL 

Not  that ;  but  who  would  quit  a  noble  master 
To  serve  a  slave  ?     For  freedom's  sake  we  rose 
Against  the  Lord — a  virtuous  king  enough 
But  yet  a  king — and  we  must  still  be  free. 
Let  Mephistopheles  give  out  the  cry. 
Then  if  he  fails  the  punishment  is  his, 
If  he  succeeds  we  make  ourselves  his  partners 
And  share  the  just  rewards.     No.     We  must  serve 
Only  ourselves,  or  else  some  honest  chief. 

BELIAL 

Well  said,  well  said.     Each  man  shall  rule  himself. 
I  will  remember  your  good  words.     I  will. 

(Enter  Titrel) 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  73 

TUREL 

Silence  all.     The  Prince  is  there. 
One  foot  on  the  topmost  stair 
Stands  he  with  uplifted  face 
Gazing  into  starry  space, 
Drinking  deep  the  midnight  air. 
From  his  brow  the  matted  hair 
Floats,  each  lock  a  golden  flame. 
High  scorn  quivers  through  his  frame, 
His  fixed  eye  with  question  burns, 
And  his  soul  unconquered  yearns 
For  the  heaven  whence  it  came. 
Him  those  mighty  pinions  brought 
To  this  island's  yawning  shore 
That  so  grandly  beat  and  soar 
To  the  pulses  of  his  thought. 
By  the  winds  his  vesture  caught 
Filled  and  floated  like  a  cloud, 
Dun  and  silvern  as  a  shroud ; 
For  all  sea  mews  and  sea  gulls, 
Flying  in  the  tempest  lulls, 
Ravens,  hawks,  and  eagles  loud, 


74  LUCIFER  ACT  HI 

And  whatever  living  things 
Trembled  upon  woven  wings 
In  the  path  he  chanced  to  take, 
Fell  into  the  bitter  lake, 
Weary  suddenly  of  breath; 
And  the  spoil  of  quiet  death 
Strewed  the  billows  in  his  wake. 
Behold  him. 

{Enter  Lucifer) 
BELIAL 

God  !     He  never  looked  so  fair 
Even  in  heaven. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

'Tis  the  change  of  air. 

LUCIFER 

Again  I  greet  you,  hollow  rocks ;  again 
Among  your  ancient  treasures  hide  my  pain. 
I  love  you  better  than  the  heaven  blue, 
Which  is  not  blue  nor  heaven.     This  squat  dome 
Broods  like  a  dungeon  close.     Its  frown  is  true. 
Were  my  soul  local  I  could  call  this  home. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  75 

And  O  my  piteous  angels,  faithful  few 
Of  all  my  comrades,  I  return  to  you. 
All  brutish  natures  fructify  and  grow, 
But  you  are  barren.     Others  breed  and  sow, 
And  only  kill  what  may  be  food  for  them. 
You  in  just  hate  and  scorn  of  being  stem 
The  world's  unfathomable  flood  of  woe. 
Reason,  that  first  in  my  deep  heart  was  born, 
Won  your  rude  natures  for  this  work  of  peace. 
But,  oh,  how  slowly  doth  the  evil  cease ! 
Would  that  the  healing  edge  of  my  keen  scorn 
Had  plunged  to  nature's  heart,  the  sacred  fire 
Of  my  compulsive  thought  consumed  desire. 
Then  were  a  lull  in  heaven  and  deep  sleep, 
And  sweeter  music  than  the  angels'  choir. 
Let  us  forget  redemption,  and  not  keep 
Our  hearts  enchanted  by  a  hope  so  vain. 
The  whole  creation  is  in  love  with  pain. 
The  child,  delighted  at  the  sparrow's  note, 
Cries,  Would  I  were  a  bird  that  I  might  fly  ! 
But  the  bird's  chirping  is  his  hunger's  cry, 
A  nameless  want  is  throbbing  at  his  throat, 
His  wings  are  weary,  and  the  season's  stress 


76  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

Drives  him  from  wilderness  to  wilderness. 
If  one  of  you  had  watched  him  in  the  glade 
Hop  to  his  nest,  officious  with  a  straw, 
Across  the  patches  of  the  sun  and  shade, 
You  had  belched  fire  upon  him,  or  your  claw 
Had  gashed  his  breast.     And  it  were  better  so. 
No  more  those  numbed  feet  would  mark  the  snow, 
Or  that  slight  soul  accuse  the  gods  above. 
Thus  your  wild  instinct  does  the  work  of  love. 
He  and  none  else  is  cruel  who  began 
The  fatal  work  of  life,  and  in  each  breast 
Bade  some  blind  passion  torture  all  the  rest, 
To  die  unsatisfied.     Innocent  man 
Obeys  his  need,  and  pities  when  he  can. 
Therefore  I  love  you.     In  your  delved  hall 
Night  is  as  day,  and  by  this  leaping  flame 
Summer  and  frozen  winter  are  the  same. 
So,  too,  your  wills,  raised  by  your  noble  fall, 
Surpass  the  servitude  to  praise  and  blame. 
Save  that  great  sin  which  is  to  be  at  all, 
Ye  know  no  crime,  but  as  each  soul  is  made 
So  it  stands  forth,  incapable  of  shame, 
Naked,  defiant,  lustful,  undismayed ; 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  77 

And  that  I  prize,  as  my  soul  hates  the  fool 
Whose  only  passion  is  to  live  by  rule. 
Unreason  made  the  world  ;  if  her  vast  loom 
Chance  to  inweave  a  monstrous  figure  there, 
And  if  I  choose  to  dote  and  deem  it  fair, 
For  that  strange  judgment  there  is  also  room. 
For  every  spirit  born  to  breathe  the  air 
Is  his  own  master  and  himself  his  doom. 

(He  takes  his  place  on  the  dais) 

Thus  I  fill  the  flagon  up 
With  red  wine  and  pass  the  cup. 
Lo !   My  lips  have  touched  the  brim 
Where  the  beaded  bubbles  swim. 
As  I  drink,  drink,  comrades,  after 
Of  this  fount  of  love  and  laughter. 
Curst  be  he  who  stints  his  joy ; 
Him  the  honeyed  foam  shall  cloy. 
The  stout  heart  that  drinketh  deep 
Hath  loud  laughter  and  long  sleep. 
Drain  the  bitter  dregs,  my  braves, 
Nor  go  foolish  to  your  graves, 
For  it  ne'er  comes  round  again, 
Youth's  full  cup  of  joy  and  pain. 


78  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

We  who  were  together  boys 
In  the  painted  house  of  joys, 
We  who  have  been  young  together 
Breasting  foul  and  wintry  weather, 
When  the  sand  doth  scrape  the  prow, 
How  shall  we  be  parted  now  ? 
Shame  to  him  who  scorns  the  pleasure 
That  hath  filled  another's  measure. 
Death  to  him  who  dreads  the  groan 
That  a  brother's  soul  hath  known. 
Thus  I  drink  with  each  that  saith : 
Here's  to  friendship  unto  death. 

(Drinks  and  passes  the  cup.     They  sit  down  to  eat) 
(Music  and  Dance) 

BELIAL 

Let's  to  the  food. 

AZAZEL 

So  Hermes  is  not  come  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

The  time's  not  yet,  but  we  shall  see  anon 
The  rosy  god,  the  Prince's  darling  friend — 
Of  whom  he  thought  the  while  he  flattered  us — 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  7g 

Who  being  gay  and  squeamish  in  his  food 
Is  fortunately  late.      Else  had  he  heard 
That  woeful  monologue,  and  smelt  this  fish. 
We,  my  lord's  comrades,  whom  he  frankly  hates, 
Are  fools  and  churlish  knaves.      He  told  us  so. 
He  gives  us  his  sad  words ;  his  jolly  wine 
He  keeps  for  better  company.      In  sooth, 
'Twill  be  that  novel  friendship's  sweetening 
Of  which  he  sings  the  praises.    Some  such  catch 
I  learned  while  at  the  university 
I  read  Aquinas.     I  oft  heard  the  like 
In  their  beer-cellars. 

BELIAL 
'Twas  a  beauteous  song. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

My  barrel-bellied  friends,  the  publicans, 
Know  many  better.      I  will  sing  you  one 
When  you  are  drunker  and  of  keener  wit 
To  relish  song.     Perhaps  the  thieving  god 
Will  never  deign  to  come.      This  barren  house 
Gives  little  scope  for  his  dexterity, 


8o  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

And  dining  off  his  father's  golden  plate 
Seems  better  worth  his  pains.     But  I  will  ask. 

(To  Lucifer) 

My  lord,  was  it  to-day  the  son  of  Jove 
Walked  awhile  with  us  in  the  wonted  grove  ? 

LUCIFER 
Ay;  said  I  not  I  meant  to  bring  him  here  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  had  forgot.     Was  he  prevented  then  ? 

LUCIFER 

His  duty  called  him  to  the  needs  of  men. 
Alas  !      How  grim  a  cavern  hell  will  seem 
After  Elysium  !     Some  one  must  stand  near 
With  courteous  greeting,  lest  he  shrink  in  fear. 
Yes,  let  one  go  and  signal  from  the  hill. 
Azazel,  thou,  who  ever  drinkest  least. 

AZAZEL 
Not  I,  my  lord.      Bid  servants  do  your  will. 

LUCIFER 

Why,  I  should  go  myself,  but  that  the  feast 
Would  lack  a  chief.      Yet,  since  thou  tak'st  it  ill, 
Here's  Mephistopheles — 


ACT  I II  LUCIFER  81 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

My  lord,  the  law, 
If  I  mistake  not,  and  not  any  lack 
Of  zeal  to  serve  your  fancy  holds  him  back. 
Law  when  unwelcome  most  enforces  awe. 

LUCIFER 

The  law? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

You  live  away  from  us,  my  lord, 
Among  the  better  people  of  your  dreams, 
And  you  forget  how  great  a  trifle  seems 
To  meaner  spirits.     Would  you  might  afford 
More  counsel  to  your  people  ! 

LUCIFER 
But  didst  thou  say  the  law  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

It  was  my  word. 

A  constant  custom  has  the  force  of  law. 
If  he  who  made  it,  with  a  wayward  mind 
Repents,  it  yet  finds  honour  from  mankind. 
That  which  the  prudent  people  never  saw 


8z  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

Is  dangerous  to  do,  what  e'er  it  be, 

But  more  if  it  be  rash  and  mark  disdain 

Of  their  poor  safety  in  the  strong  who  reign. 

LUCIFER 

I  do  not  understand.     The  law  I  know 
Is  that  the  greater  should  command  the  less 
And  that  by  nature  mincing  crookedness 
Hath  a  bad  end. — Lead  Hermes  hither ;  go. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

I  would,  my  lord,  but  that  it  cannot  be. 
This  is  the  kingdom's  inmost  citadel. 
No  foreign  chief  or  enemy  of  hell 
May  enter  here.     Such  is  the  law's  decree. 

LUCIFER 

Ah,  that !     If  that  were  all,  all  yet  were  well. 

I  see  a  deeper  treason  in  thy  breast. 

The  law  ?     Who  made  it,  that  it  fetters  me  ? 

I  chose  not  hitherto  to  bid  a  guest 

To  my  rude  hall,  and  am  I  now  not  free  ? 

He  oft  must  change  his  ways  who  seeks  the  best. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  83 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

You  changed  them  once,  my  lord,  and  we  lost 

heaven. 
Was  that,  too,  for  the  best  ? 

LUCIFER 

It  was  indeed. 

To  suffer  for  the  truth  is  to  succeed, 
The  fall  had  been  by  falsehood  to  have  thriven. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Ah  !  I  had  thought  you  meant  the  good  old  King 
Should  die  and  you  be  heir.  With  some  such  thing 
I  thought  you  tempted  us. 

LUCIFER 

It  was  a  dream. 

Reason  at  first  is  ignorant.     Her  might 
She  deems,  like  her  prerogative,  supreme, 
And  weds  in  fancy  victory  with  right. 
By  grief  instructed,  none  the  less  I  cling 
To  truth,  and  from  my  deepest  heart  defy 
The  shameful  triumphs  of  iniquity. 


84  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

Thou  dost  not  so,  my  brother.     Thy  sick  mind 
Needs  to  be  truckled  to  by  flatteries. 
Small  tricks  of  chance  and  favours  of  mankind 
Are  dainties  to  thy  palate.     Wretched  lies, 
Unmeaning  strokes  of  fortune,  mad  and  blind, 
What  should  they  be  to  me  ?     I  let  them  strike 
That  cannot  wound  my  honour. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Sir,  I  like 

Your  martyr's  courage,  but  could  wish  removed 
The  disappointment  of  your  slight  mistake, 
Although  the  people's  murmurs  be  reproved 
Whose  folly  makes  them  think  the  burning  lake 
Less  pleasant  than  cool  heaven. 

LUCIFER 

Villain,  when  were  such  words  addressed  to  me  ? 
Ho  !  Where  is  Belial  ?    Call  him  quickly  here — 
Is  this  mere  madness  or  conspiracy  ? 
From  mild  Olympus  what  have  they  to  fear  ? 
It  were  too  gross  a  blindness  for  their  eyes. 
Ho  !  Belial !  Where  is  Belial  ? 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  85 

FIRST  DEVIL 

Here  he  lies. 
Look,  sir,  the  Prince  is  calling. 

BELIAL 

Let  him  call. 

(Sings) 

Ho,  heigh,  ho,  the  wine  is  red, 

One  more  cup  and  then  to  bed 

And  between — that's  wrong,  that's  wrong. 

Sing  thou,  I  have  forgot  the  song. 

FIRST  DEVIL 

Come,  sir,  the  Prince  speaks.     Attend. 

BELIAL  ( reeling,  cup  in  hand) 

Would  the  sweet  Prince  drink  with  me  ? 

I  am  now  his  enemy, 

But  until  the  mad  world's  end 

If  a  man  will  drink  with  me 

I  will  count  him  for  a  friend. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Hush,  fool,  you  are  drunk.     Be  still. 


86 


LUCIFER 


ACT  III 


BELIAL 

So  I  am ;  but  you  forget 

You  are  not  my  master  yet. 

Drunk  ?     Well,  drunk  I'll  have  my  will. 

( To  Lucifer) 

Mephistopheles  and  I 

Have  decreed  that  you  must  go. 

All  the  rest  would  have  it  so — 

I  forget  the  reason  why. 

You  must  fly,  my  lord,  must  fly — 

And  I  bid  you  now  farewell. 


In  the  lands  where  you  will  dwell 
I  will  sometimes  visit  you 
And  in  cups  like  this  renew 
Pleasant  memories  of  hell. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Nay,  this  is  his  dream,  my  lordv 
Hatched  in  his  besotted  brain. 
We  all  hope  you  long  may  reign 
And  we  would  not  use  the  sword. 
But  we  all,  with  one  accord, 


(Offers  his  hand) 


(Drinks) 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  87 

Will  from  strangers  guard  this  hold. 

You  are  welcome  as  of  old, 

But  your  friend'  you  cannot  bring, 

For  a  treasonable  king 

Makes  the  loyal  subject  bold. 

LUCIFER 

Astonishment  more  utter  than  disdain 
Ties  my  parched  tongue.     How  should  you  ban 
ish  me  ? 

To  me  the  gates  of  heaven  still  are  free 
And  cannot  close ;  the  Father's  weary  brain 
By  nature's  curse,  though  unconfessedly, 
Holds  nightly  session  with  my  mastering  pain, 
And  will  you  banish  me  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Not  from  our  thought, 

My  lord.      We  shall  remember  you,  no  doubt, 
Though  in  the  body  you  should  dwell  without. 
But  let  your  better  judgment  yet  be  brought 
Not  to  command  the  impossible.     The  fool 
Loves  to  attempt  it.      Bid  your  passion  cool 
And  answer  the  assembled  people  this  : 


88  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

Shall  a  god,  pampered  and  tyrannical, 
Who  burdens  mortals  to  increase  his  bliss, 
Sit  like  a  guest  of  honour  in  this  hall 
Spying  our  deeds  ;  and  having  had  his  fill 
Issue  from  hence  and  hurry  to  his  mates 
Sitting  in  sloth  upon  their  castled  hill 
To  plan  campaigns  against  us  ? 

LUCIFER 

Hold!     Be  still! 

I  must  no  longer  hear  thee.     The  just  Fates 
Are  sleeping  else  this  kingdom  could  not  stand. 

0  gentle  friend,  if  o'er  the  moonlit  waves 
Thy  light  soul  flieth  to  this  shaken  land, 
Turn  back,  and  enter  not  these  cursed  caves, 
For  here  a  great  calamity  has  come. 

1  might  with  flaming  sword,  ay,  with  a  breath 
Quell  this  rebellion,  like  Samson  split  this  dome, 
And  crush  these  venomous  worms  in  sudden  death. 
Ay,  and  then  say  .to  him  who  entereth  : 

These  are  my  vassals,  this  my  house  and  home. 

O  deep  damnation  ! 

Avaunt,  thou  festering  plague,  thou  livid  scum 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  89 

Of  hell's  envenomed  serpent-breeding  pool  ! 
That  ever  I  should  call  this  people  mine 
Amid  their  swinish  kisses  belching  wine  ! 
Why  did  I  e'er  seduce  them,  trustful  fool, 
To  follow  reason  ?     Heaven  was  their  place. 
Leave  me,  go  back  to  him,  implore  his  grace 
Who  with  bribes  sweetens  his  usurped  rule. 
You  know  me  not.     In  me  you  never  saw 
The  truth's  superb  and  calm  authority 
That  without  armies  holds  the  world  in  awe. 
You  saw  a  kinder,  weaker  lord  in  me 
Smiling  on  license,  and  your  evil  blood 
And  lust  of  riot  hatched  your  mutiny. 
Doth  my  dog  love  me  only  for  his  food, 
Or  follow  to  be  sleek  ?     Ye  mongrel  curs 
That   bite  when   you  are  thin  !     What's  hungry 

truth 

That  you  should  serve  it,  or  be  ministers 
Of  holy  pity  or  all-healing  ruth  ? 
Henceforth  to  be  your  king  shall  be  my  shame. 
Look  not  to  me,  nor  hide  your  rankling  vices 
Beneath  the  mantle  of  my  spotless  name. 
Back  to  your  ancient  master  ;  he'll  forgive 


90  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

And  feast  you  for  returning.     It  suffices 

That  you  blaspheme  my  faith.      O  live  and  thrive, 

Show  all  the  hireling  world  how  wise  you  are. 

I  do  so  hate  you  I  would  have  you  live. 

Grow,  breed,  beget,  let  writhing  lechery 

Drive  sleep  from  you  at  night  and  treacherous  war 

Hound  you  for  ever.     Breed,  that  if  you  die 

Misshapen  giants  may  the  plagues  inherit 

With  which  I  curse  you  now. 

TUREL 

O  jhaken  spirit ! 

AZAZEL 
What  will  he  do  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Nothing^— but  nurse  his  grief. 

AZAZEL 

He'll  leave  us. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Ay,  in  that  our  plot  succeeds. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  91 

LUCIFER 

Farewell  for  ever,  partners  of  my  deeds, 

False  to   my   thought.     Look,  soldiers,  on    your 

chief 
For  the  last  time. 

FIRST  DEVIL 

My  lord— 

SECOND  DEVIL 

My  lord,  I  pray, 
Charge  not  to  me  another's  treachery. 

LUCIFER 

Ye  all  are  foul.     Speak  not  a  word  to  me. 
I  fly  beyond  the  fountains  of  the  day 
Into  the  silence.     The  polluted-  shore 
Of  hell  releases  me.     I  strive  no  more. 

TUREL 
Master,  may  I  go  with  you  ? 

LUCIFER 

Who  shall  tread  my  secret  ways  ? 


92  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

TUREL 

I  have  served  you  all  my  days. 
What  is  left  for  me  to  do  ? 

LUCIFER 

I  have  been  a  curse  to  thee 
Ever.     Thou  forsookest  heaven 
Uncondemned,  thy  choice  was  free. 
Fool,  by  love  to  ruin  driven  ! 
Unavailing,  unforgiven 
Was  the  only  love  of  me. 

(Exit) 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Comrades,  the  Prince,  as  you  have  seen,  hath  fled. 
As  to  the  next  in  office  lend  instead 
Your  loyal  aid  to  me. 

AZAZEL 

Hold  !     Not  so  quick. 
Others  have  equal  privilege  and  I 
Cannot  consent.     This  is  too  plain  a  trick. 
The  common  voice  alone  may  choose  a  king. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Nature  hath  named  him. 


ACT  III  LUCIFER  93 

BELIAL 

Mark  his  vanity. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Thou  shalt  not  mark  it  twice. 

(Stabs  Belial,  who  falls) 
AZAZEL 

Pernicious  fiend, 

Thy  reign  is  well  begun,  but  it  shall  end 
Ere  further  mischief  follow. 

4  (Draws) 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Fool,  come  on. 

(Exeunt,  fighting) 
SECOND  DEVIL  (seizing  a  fire  brand) 

I  will  set  fire  to  something.     If  one  fall 
I'll  brand  the  other  till  he  howl  with  pain. 
Come  on,  a  blaze  !  A  revel,  one  and  all. 
Who  knows  when  such  a  night  will  come  again  ? 

(Exit,  amid  general  confusion) 
FIRST  DEVIL  (after  the  stage  is  emptied,  fills  a  bowl  and  sings) 

What  care  I  what  king  is  king  ? 
I  am  still  a  slave. 


94  LUCIFER  ACT  III 

While  there's  red  wine  in  his  cave — 

Ring,  bells,  ring — 
What  care  I  what  king  is  king  ? 

What  care  I  what  king  is  king 

If  my  coat  is  brave  ? 
While  I  have  a  song  to  sing — 

Dig  his  grave — 
What  care  I  what  king  is  king  ? 


ACT  FOURTH 

SCENE  FIRST 

IN  FRONT  A  PLATFORM.        ON    ONE    SIDE  THE  OPEN  SKY, 
WITH  FLOATING   CLOUDS.        ON    THE    OTHER    THE    GATE    OF 

HEAVEN.  BESIDE  IT,  SAINT  PETER,  IN  HIS  CHAIR,  READ 
ING.  BEHIND,  A  PART  OF  THE  WALLS  AND  PINNACLES  OF 
THE  CELESTIAL  CITY. 

(Hermes  and  Mephistopheles  arriving) 
MEPHISTOPHELES 

We  started  early.     It  is  twilight  yet. 

HERMES 

Pleasant  it  is  to  watch  this  broader  sun 
Rise  from  this  calmer  sea. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

It  is  a  moon. 
The  sun  shines  there  within  and  cannot  set. 


96  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

HERMES 

Your  feast  was  brief. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

It  ended  with  the  broth. 
About  some  trifle — almost  I  forget 
The  cause — our  Lucifer  was  greatly  wroth 
And  burst  with  curses  from  us.     That  upset 
Our  festival. 

HERMES 

Indeed  !     In  one  so  just 
The  thing  is  strange. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Who  knows  ?     Some  deep  chagrin 
May  have  found  vent  in  this.  The  sinless  must 
Lay  all  their  troubles  to  another's  sin, 
Which  thus  grows  large.   He  did  not  seem  at  ease. 
I  think  thy  absence  grieved  him. 

HERMES 

It  was  late 

When  I  came  forth  and  found  thee  at  the  gate. 
Thou  saidst  that  all  was  over. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  97 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

If  thou  please 

Sit  here  awhile.     The  Porter  seems  awake. 
I  will  be  gentle  with  him  for  thy  sake. 

(Approaches  Saint  Peter) 

Ho  !   Father  Porter,  is  there  leave  to  pass  ? 
You  will  grow  fat  in  office,  now,  I  fear, 
That  no  one  knocks,  and  doze  while  chanticleer 
Awakes  us  busy  people.     But,  alas, 
Though  others  fail  you,  I  will  come  to  mass 
And  keep  the  Church's  precept  once  a  year. 

SAINT  PETER 

Thou  knowest,  devil,  that  the  way  is  free. 
It  is  thy  pride  hath  forged  for  thee  the  lock 
And  closed  thy  bosom  to  felicity. 
Go,  demon,  see  the  glory  thou  dost  mock. 
Go,  fiend,  and  double  torment  may  it  be 
To  look  on  heaven,  having  hell  in  thee. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Slowly,  good  Father,  give  me  time  to  blink, 

For,  by  the  Cock,  you  are  infallible 

And  rashness  now  might  bring  expense  of  ink 


98  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

On  sucking  theologians.     Truth  to  tell — 

But  I  forgot.     I  have  some  news  for  you 

That  will  surprise  you.     Lucifer,  I  think, 

Is  coming  back  to  heaven.     He  withdrew 

Last  night  from  our  command.   He  says  we  stink. 

He  will  not  speak  in  his  own  name  at  first — 

He  has  diplomacy — but  sends  to  sue 

For  leave  that  one,  his  favourite,  may  view 

The  sights  of  heaven.     But,  mark  me,  if  he  durst, 

He  would  beg  pardon  for  himself.     His  sin 

Will  be  forgiven,  and  sans  further  harm 

You'll  have  a  soldier-prince.     The  secular  arm 

Will  drive  the  clergy  hard  when  he  is  in. 

I  am  most  sensible  of  your  alarm. 

You  see  this  strange  conversion  must  chagrin 

Me  also,  who  have  lost  him.     But  we  bear, 

They  say,  the  griefs  more  lightly  which  we  share. 

SAINT  PETER 

Ah,  liar  !     Is  there  any  truth  in  this  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

All  I  have  said.     I  came  now  not  to  miss 
The  touching  scene.     He  will  be  here  anon. 


ACT  IV  [  LUCIFER  99 

But  I  have  brought  you  Hermes,  who  would  ask 
A  herald's  privilege  and  see  the  King, 
To  offer  gifts  from  Zeus.     A  pious  task, 
Unless  your  Holiness  forbid  the  thing. 

SAINT  PETER 

Why  is  it  pleasant  to  thee  to  offend  ? 

Thou  knowest  such  imaginations  vain. 

Here  children  born  to  Adam  and  again 

Born  unto  Christ  with  angels  live  alone. 

He  who  comes  with  thee  comes  to  no  good  end. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

His  ends  are  his,  I  make  them  not  my  own, 

But  as  a  common  human  courtesy 

I  point  the  way  to  strangers.     To  the  throne 

I  take  the  slight  petition  you  deny, 

For,  though  I'm  sorry  for  it,  sure  I  am 

God  receives  many  that  the  churches  damn. 

(T^^rnsback  to  Hermes) 
SAINT  PETER 

God  knows  the  right ;  but  it  is  not  our  place 
To  make  exceptions.   He  can  grant  a  grace 
Who  gave  the  law.  We  cannot. 


ioo  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Well,  my  son, 
He  will  not  let  thee  pass. 

HERMES 

And  were  it  rash 
To  try  the  gate  ? 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

'Tis  hardly  to  be  done, 
And  failure  in  that  insolence  would  dash 
All  hopes  of  parley. 

HERMES 

May  he  not  be  won  ? 
Leave  the  old  man  to  me. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Prescriptions  bind 

These  priests  and  pedants,  and  he  thinks  to  find 
Some  ancient  rule  against  it.     Underlings 
Will  ever  stickle  at  the  forms  of  things. 
The  King  himself  will  judge  with  freer  mind 
And  haply  bid  thee  welcome.     I  will  ask 
That  favour,  being  fitted  for  the  task 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  101 

Better,  perhaps,  than  thou.     Thou  art  a  Greek 

Unused  to  kiss  the  ground  before  the  throne 

Of  the  Great  King,  or  smile  the  smile,  and  speak 

The  flowery  phrase.     'Tis  well  I  go  alone. 

I  know  the  anguished  look,  the  posture  meek, 

The  trembling  voice  that  make  good  manners  here; 

And,  though  I  am  a  rebel,  I  appear 

As  an  old  courtier  and  I  move  with  ease. 

Over  my  lot  the  cherubs  shed  a  tear, 

And  'spite  of  all  my  blasphemies  I  please. 

Talk  meantime  to  the  priest.      He  is  a  sage 

Of  pleasant  wit  when  he  forgets  his  role, 

And  when  not  bent  on  catching  any  soul 

Enjoys  the  fancies  of  this  naughty  age. 

Nor  has  he  worshipped  at  thy  shrine  in  vain. 

He  knows  thy  trick  of  words  and  trick  of  gain. 

(Goes  in) 
HERMES 

Old  man,  I  pray  thee,  wherefore  may  I  not 
Speak  to  thy  King  ? 

SAINT  PETER 

Thou  hast  no  need  of  grace. 
That  is  a  sadder  and  a  higher  lot 
Than  thine.  The  poor  in  spirit  see  his  face. 


LUCIFER  ACT  IV 


HERMES 

Strange  !   Surely  Lucifer  who  knows  the  truth 
Sent  me  not  hither  to  be  turned  away. 

SAINT  PETER 

It  is  a  serpent  tempts  thee,  noble  youth. 

Even  while  speaking  truth  he  leads  astray. 

His  eye  is  subtle,  but  his  heart  is  blind, 

And  of  God's  fruits  he  marks  the  spotted  rind, 

But  not  the  kernel  where  their  virtue  lay. 

All  nature  yields  no  meaning  to  his  mind, 

For  understanding  withers  at  its  springs 

Unless  love  guide  it  to  the  sense  of  things. 

On  faith  is  built  the  wisdom  of  mankind. 

Mark  how  this  age,  that  builds  its  truth  on  doubt, 

Falters  at  heart  and  knows  no  certain  hope, 

But  trusts  to  fate,  with  which  it  dare  not  cope, 

To  work  its  undeserved  salvation  out. 

What  truth  have  men  ?      The  senses'  brief  deceit. 

What  happiness  ?     The  slavery  to  greed. 

What  art  ?     An  echo  and  a  paltry  cheat. 

What  God  ?     A  helpless  consciousness  of  need. 

Upon  what  food,  then,  doth  this  people  feed 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  103 

That  it  forgets  of  whom  it  borrows  breath  ? 
Knows  it  the  secret  of  the  budding  grain, 
Or  can  it  conjure  floods  or  summon  rain  ? 
Or  grows  it  sick  and  amorous  of  death, 
Or  like  its  father,  Satan,  dull  to  pain  ? 
Oh,  men  have  waxed  too  covetous  of  gold 
To  lift  their  eyes  up  from  their  labour's  gain  ; 
And  as  each  morning  brings  the  sun  again 
And  summer  wears  his  splendours  as  of  old, 
They  drive  the  ploughshare  deeper  in  the  mould 
And  say :  There  are  no  longer  gods  in  heaven  ! 
With  smitten  breast  and  penance  would  they  crave 
Their  bread,  if  God  less  bountifully  gave, 
But  they  forget  him  now,  when  all  is  given. 
Thus  are  the  souls  my  Master  died  to  save 
Like  earth-regarding  beasts  in  stupor  driven 
Without  the  hope  of  heaven  to  the  grave. 

HERMES 

Old  man,  thy  words  are  strange,  thy  thought  is  just. 
Our  altars  have  not  smoked  these  many  years; 
Our  shrines  are  desolate,  our  statues  dust. 
None  bring  us  sacrifice  of  joys  and  fears, 


104  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

As  for  our  honour  and  their  good  they  must. 
For  men  have  need  of  us  to  feed  their  soul 
And  with  a  perfect  thought  their  pain  beguile. 
We  are  the  better  part  that  saves  the  whole, 
And  man's  heart  lightens  when  he  treads  a  grove 
Hallowed  by  me  or  any  child  of  Jove. 

SAINT  PETER 

Amiable  spirit,  in  the  heaven's  smile 
Among  the  flowers  thy  beauty  came  to  birth. 
Live,  and  make  fragrant  still  that  early  earth 
Where  nothing  sinful  is  and  nothing  vile. — 

(To  himself} 

No,  Adam,  thine  was  not  a  blessed  fault, 
Though  ransomed  by  the  blessed  death  of  Christ. 
The  good  that  nature  gave  us  had  sufficed, 
Nor  if  the  touch  of  evil  could  exalt 
Would  God  forbid  it  and  the  heart  cry,  Halt ! 

(To  Hermes) 

Why  shouldst  thou  pray  to  pass  these  heavy  doors 
Through  which  the  triumphs  of  our  sorrow  go 
When  heaven  dwells  within  thy  breast  and  pours 
Its  music  through  thy  being's  pulses  ?     No. 
Envy  us  not  the  comfort  of  our  woe. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER 

HERMES 

I  envy  nothing.     If  I  scaled  these  towers 
'Twas  to  deliver  messages  I  bring 
From  Zeus,  my  father,  to  thy  Lord,  the  King, 
And  bear  his  answer  back. 

SAINT  PETER 

A  darkness  lowers 
Suddenly  in  the  east,  as  if  a  storm 
Were  coming  on  us.     From  all  evil  powers 
Defend  us,  Master.      Hath  the  thing  a  form  ? 

{Enter  Lucifer) 
HERMES 

'Tis  Lucifer  ! 

SAINT  PETER 

I  know  not  what  I  fear, 
But  a  great  chillness  falls  upon  my  heart. 

LUCIFER 
Alas  !     Methought  that  I  should  find  thee  here. 

HERMES 

How  welcome,  Lucifer,  how  fair  thou  art 
In  these  strange  heavens  ! 


105 


io6  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

LUCIFER 

Whither  didst  thou  flee  ? 

Couldst  thou  not  find  some  path  across  the  sea 
To  where  I  waited  ? 

HERMES 

It  was  late  to  start 
And  Mephistopheles — 

LUCIFER 

O  evil  name, 
Let  me  not  hear  thee  utter  it ! — 

HERMES 

He  came 

Ere  midnight,  saying  that  the  feast  was  o'er, 
And  led  me  straightway  hither. 

LUCIFER 

Did  no  shame 

Show  on  the  villain's  brow  ? 

HERMES 

He  seemed  the  same. 
'Tis  thou  hast  never  looked  so  stern  before. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  107 

LUCIFER 

Where  is  he  now  ? 

HERMES 

Within.     The  gate  is  locked 
Against  me,  but  he  took  my  message  in. 

LUCIFER 
Couldst  thou  trust  him,  whose  words  have  ever 

mocked 
His  own  heart's  thinking  ? 

HERMES 

It  was  not  my  sin. 

When  to  his  hands  thou  hast  commended  me 
Should  I  not  trust  him  ? 

LUCIFER 

Fates,  ye  spin,  ye  spin  ! 

HERMES 

If  I  might  enter  now  'tis  not  too  late. 
Question  this  man.     I  cannot  find  the  cause 
Why,  being  good,  he  keeps  me  from  the  gate. 


io8  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

LUCIFER 

Leave  the  old  fool  alone.     This  realm  hath  laws 
Older  than  those  in  which  his  tribe  is  schooled. 
Do  not  these  frowning  portals  give  thee  pause  ? 

HERMES 
I  fain  would  pass  them. 

LUCIFER 

They  may  yet  be  ruled. 
Hear  me,  ye  gates,  if  ye  have  memory 
Of  peaceful  days  when  ye  could  wider  swing 
And  feel  the  brazen  chariots,  wing  and  wing, 
Roll  o'er  your  golden  threshold  to  the  sky. 
Hear  me,  ye  gates,  and,  opening,  reply. 

HERMES 

Hear  me,  ye  gates  !     A  winged  herald  I 

From  distant  skies,  with  greetings  to  your  King ; 

The  guardian  of  the  souls  that  ever  sing, 

The  shepherd  of  the  shades  that  never  die. 

Hear  me,  ye  gates,  and,  opening,  reply. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  109 

LUCIFER 

Hear  ye  not,  O  ye  faithless  gates,  the  cry 
That  with  hosannas  made  this  welkin  ring, 
When  ye,  a-tremble  at  so  glad  a  thing, 
Opened  to  let  the  swift  Archangel  by  ? 
Ye  hear  me  not.     Your  silence  makes  reply. 

SAINT  PETER 

Vain  incantation  !     See  ye  not  the  cross 
Above  the  doors  ? 

HERMES 

Ah,  look  !     Was  that  sign  there 
When  they  obeyed  thee  ? 

LUCIFER 

Out  of  my  despair 

Thou  bring'st  me,  Hermes,  to  a  second  loss. 
I  never  thought  to  see  this  place  again. 
Never!     Never  to  call  and  call  in  vain 
At  my  own  kingdom's  portals.     Still  to  hope 
Was  folly.     See  how  like  the  blind  I  grope, 
Led  by  thy  wanton  hand  ;  into  what  mesh 
Of  infinite  affliction  thou  hast  led  me  ! 


no  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

Thou  with  a  touch  hast  quickened  my  dead  flesh 
And  on  the  bitterness  of  beauty  fed  me 
Till  all  my  healed  wounds  do  bleed  afresh. 

HERMES 

What  have  I  done  ?     I  know  not.     If  this  place 
Is  grievous  to  thee,  do  not  enter  in. 
Methinks  this  good  old  man  will  have  the  grace 
To  be  my  messenger. 

LUCIFER 

'Twas  an  innocent  sin, 
Hermes,  in  thee. 

HERMES 

Why,  then,  this  bitterness. 

Thou  lov'st  me  not. 

* 

LUCIFER 

Incredible  to  me 

Is  the  deep  root  thy  love  hath  taken  in  me,  * 
So  deep  it  wounds,  so  deep  it  cannot  bless. 
What  need  of  proof?  A  word  of  thine  could  win  me 
To  leave  my  proper  throne  and  follow  thee. 
Remember,  Hermes,  that  my  grief  is  large, 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  1 1 

Not  small  my  love.     Can  time  unsalt  the  sea 
For  drinking  sweetness  of  a  thousand  streams  ? 
'Tis  they  grow  brackish  far  above  the  marge 
With  his  pollution.     Malediction  seems 
To  spread  about  me.     O  beware,  beware, 
Lest  some  great  evil  fall  upon  thy  head, 
As  upon  all  my  mates,  and  leave  despair 
To  mock  the  phantom  of  thy  beauty  dead. 
But  I  will  save  thee  still.     When  I  am  fled 
'Twill  be  my  comfort  in  my  heavy  lot 
To  know  thee  happy.     It  shall  then  be  said 
That  one  was  once  my  friend  and  rued  it  not. 
For  this  sole  thing,  to  have  the  power  to  bless, 
As  all  men  have,  I  could  remount  my  sphere. 
There,  where  I  loved,  I  carried  happiness. 
Now  I  must  banish  me  from  what  is  dear 
Lest  it  should  perish  if  I  linger  near. 

HERMES 

And  I  had  hoped  to  make  thy  sorrow  less  ! 

LUCIFER 

Alas  !  The  ghost  of  good  that  haunts  the  earth 
Is  sadder  than  all  evil.     Of  thy  birth, 


ii2  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

Of  thy  young  faith,  repent !     Let  no  caress 
Win  thee  to  softness,  no  sweet  voice  decoy, 
For  it  will  leave  thee  like  a  desolate  child 
Weeping  a  blasted  hope.      In  thy  defiled 
And  empty  heart,  oh,  quench  the  hope  of  joy  ! 
Guileless  thou  wert.      Myself  have  I  beguiled 
Into  this  toil.      There  is  a  time  in  love 
When  comes  a  chill,  a  little  touch  of  frost, 
And  the  simplicity  of  love  is  lost. 
It  may  live  after,  many  a  trial  prove 
Its  constancy ;  but  upon  friend  and  friend 
The  burden  lies — foreknowledge  of  the  end. 
My  flower  is  nipped.      We  stood  now  at  the  crest 
Of  our  high  friendship.   The  pathway  heretofore 
Mounted,  and  love  was  daily  more  and  more, 
But  henceforth  to  the  gates  of  death  addressed 
It  winds  into  the  sunset.     I  am  loath, 
Hermes,  to  grieve  thee,  but  the  truth  is  best. 
I  shall  not  falter.     Faithful  to  my  oath 
I  will  walk  with  thee  till  thou  hast  thy  will, 
But  then  I  leave  thee.     To  my  desert  hill 
Never  pursue  me,  to  ensnare  us  both. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  113 

HERMES 

Nay,  I  release  thee  now. 

LUCIFER 

'Tis  not  the  oath. 

When  the  lips  swear,  the  lips  may  be  forsworn, 
But,  oh,  the  torment  when  the  heart  is  torn  ! 
How  could  I  leave  thee  in  so  strange  a  plight 
Amid  the  quicksands  of  this  ghostly  shore, 
Where  every  blear  and  unfamiliar  light 
Would  mock  thee  and  bewitch  thee  o'er  and  o'er? 
Thou  art  not  armoured  for  so  vast  a  war, 
Nor  in  the  bivouac  of  so  foul  a  night 
Hast  thou  in  thy  sweet  soul  enough  despair 
To  keep  the  courage  of  thine  inward  right 
And  the  last  issue  of  thy  fate  to  dare. 
Therefore,  for  the  sad  sake  of  this  last  love 
So  rich  in  sorrow,  and  in  hope  so  poor, 
I  make  me  thine  ambassador  above. 
Insolent  gates,  avaunt !   Proud  heart,  endure  ! 

(Lucifer  strikes  the  gates  with  his  lance.  They  open  and  he 
enters.  Hermes  attempts  to  follow,  but  an  invisible  barrier  prevents 
him  from  crossing  the  threshold.  Saint  Peter,  making  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  follows  Lucifer*  The  gates  close  again,  and  Hermes  remains 
'watching  the  scene  in  an  attitude  of  rest.) 


U4  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 


SCENE  SECOND 

HEAVEN:  FROM  THE  AISLE  THAT  OCCUPIES  THE  FORE 
GROUND  THE  CHOIR  OF  A  VAST  CATHEDRAL  IS  SEEN 
THROUGH  AN  OPEN  SCREEN.  ANGELS  AND  SAINTS.  IN 
THE  SHADOW  OF  A  PILLAR,  MEPHISTOPHELES. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

In  ill  time  have  I  come.     They  are  at  prayers. 

I  know  the  tinkle  of  that  feeble  bell. 

These  drowsy  animals  with  pompous  airs — 

How  I  rejoice  they  do  not  cumber  hell. 

It  rasps  against  the  bone  to  hear  them  whine. 

We  had  good  music  once. — Here  comes  his  grace, 

Led  by  his  new  love  to  this  torture-place. 

(Enter  Lucifer) 

Pish — though  :  'tis  good  to  see  the  true  steel  shine 
Amid  this  tinsel  army. 

(To  Lucifer) 

Good  my  lord — 

LUCIFER 

Do  not  speak  to  me. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  1 1 5 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

We  have  passed  the  gate, 
But  here's  the  ante-room.    They  make  us  wait. 

LUCIFER 
Silence.     Let  not  thy  lips  pronounce  a  word. 

MEPHISTOPHELES 

Why  not  ?    Does  this  sweet  song  so  charm  your  ear 
That  my  voice  grates  ?    I'll  speak  to  others,  then, 
For  I  am  not  disposed  to  stand  by  here 
Until  they  reach  the  eighty-fifth  Amen. 

(He  goes  up  to  the  screen,  looks  through,  and  touches  the  Archangel 
Michael,  who  stands  near  it,  on  the  shoulder) 

Michael,  although  men's  fortune  may  decline 
You  prize  the  ancient  privilege  of  race. 
Lucifer  stands  with  mortals  here  in  line 
And  fain  would  see  the  Master  face  to  face. 

MICHAEL  (approaching  Lucifer) 

Lucifer,  have  good  patience  for  a  while, 
The  evening  canticle  is  just  begun. 
But  if  thou  wilt,  withdraw  beneath  this  aisle. 
I  will  stand  with  thee  till  the  song  is  done. 


n6  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

ANGELS  SING 

As  the  grass-blade  in  the  sod 
Turns  to  heaven  from  the  clod, 
I  from  nothingness  to  God. 

LUCIFER 

Thou  lookest  on  me,  Michael,  and  thy  gaze 
Saith,  Oh,  how  changed, how  changed  my  captain  is. 
But  heaven  too  is  changed,  more  changed,  since 

days 
When  only  perfect  spirits  knew  its  bliss. 

ANGELS  SING 

On  the  floating  cloud  I  swim, 
Finding  in  the  brightness  dim 
Him  and  Him  and  only  Him. 

MICHAEL 

Ay,  brother.  Many  earthly  voices  swell 
The  mellowed  music  of  the  angel-host, 
And  in  my  soul  man's  works  the  greatest  spell, 
For  it  is  man  the  Lord  hath  honoured  most. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  117 

ANGELS  SING 

As  a  drop  within  the  sea 
I  am  lost  and  found  in  thee, 
Thou,  my  life,  exceeding  me. 

LUCIFER 

Who  now  is  King  ?   A  man  the  Roman  slew 
For  working  wonders  to  the  gaping  mob. 
And  who  is  Queen  ?    The  daughter  of  a  Jew, 
And  heaven  trembles  at  a  girlish  sob. 

ANGELS  SING 

As  a  little  star  on  fire 
Twinkles  In  thy  silent  choir, 
My  heart  sings  with  joy  entire. 

MICHAEL 

There  is  no  greater  glory  than  to  raise 
The  spirit's  dignity  from  grievous  fall. 
Think  of  the  joy  if  after  evil  days 
Thou  wert  a  prince  again  among  us  all. 

ANGELS  SING 

As  the  grain  within  the  ear 
Feels  the  summer  of  the  year 
So  I  watch  and  love  and  fear. 


n8  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

LUCIFER 

I  am  a  thing  raised  high  above  the  world 
And  challenge  this  great  evil's  right  to  be. 
With  reason  like  a  cloak  about  me  furled 
I  bid  the  mad  gods  thunder  over  me. 

ANGELS  SING 

As  in  quiet  space  a  wind, 
Though  embosomed  not  confined, 
Moves  my  mind  within  thy  mind. 

MICHAEL 

There  is  no  right  nor  wrong,  no  high  nor  deep, 
There  is  no  reason  nor  unreason  here. 
I  choke  with  too  great  reverence  to  weep 
And  sink  before  the  wonder  I  revere. 

ANGELS  SING 

As  of  leaves  the  tender est  one 

All  my  soul  is  overrun 

With  warm  love,  as  with  the  sun. 

LUCIFER 

The  wonder  is  in  us  and  in  our  thought, 
I  will  not  worship  any  lesser  thing. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  119 

The  waking  cometh  when  the  dream  is  nought. 
The  void  will  then  be  glad,  the  silence  sing. 

ANGELS  SING 

As  the  snow-flake  in  the  sky 
Willeth  with  the  storm  to  fly, 
Living  in  thy  life  I  die. 

MICHAEL 

God  was  before  us  ;  in  his  boundless  mind 
Found  us  and  loved  us  first  and  called  us  forth. 
He  would  not  leave  us  to  his  beauty  blind, 
But  bade  us  know  the  love  that  gave  us  birth. 

ANGELS  SING 

To  thy  wisdom  all  I  leave, 
It  is  thine  to  take  and  give, 
Mine  to  love  and  to  believe. 

LUCIFER 

He  saith  he  made  us.     Let  him  then  destroy. 
He  is  his  nature's  slave  as  much  as  I. 
Think  not  your  flattery  can  give  him  joy, 
For  in  his  heart  he  knoweth  it  a  lie. 


120  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

ANGELS  SING 

Hold  me  fast,  or  make  me  free 
Freely  to  return  to  thee, 
Thou  the  all  in  all  of  me. 

MICHAEL 

I  know  the  comfort  of  my  Master's  breast, 
And  with  no  fever  is  my  spirit  tossed. 
Remember,  Lucifer,  thou  once  wast  blest, 
And  tell  me  what  is  gained  for  what  is  lost. 

ANGELS  SING 

By  thy  sacred  body  fed, 
Living  by  thy  blood,  and  led 
By  thy  spirit  overspread, — 

LUCIFER 

Ah  !  For  his  gifts  thou  worshippest  thy  Lord, 
Thy  courtier's  privilege,  thy  garments  sheen. 
For  all  the  glory  of  thy  flashing  sword 
Thou  art  a  coward,  and  thy  sou!  is  mean. 

ANGELS  SING 

While  I  see  thee,  I  am  blest, 
While  I  touch  thee,  I  can  rest, 
While  I  love  thee,  all  is  best. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  121 

MICHAEL 

I  will  not  answer  now.     Behold  the  King. 

(A  gate  in  the  screen  opens.  Enter:  The  Risen  Christ,  clothed 
in  white,  bearing  the  standard  of  the  crosst  the  wounds  on  his 
hands,  feet,  and  side.) 

LUCIFER 

What,  so  ?     No  more  ? 

CHRIST  (to  some  who  Point  out  the  presence  of  Lucifer) 

Peace.   Greet  ye  not  with  scorn 
One  who  comes  not  in  anger. 

LUCIFER  (apart) 

What  ?   So  shorn 

Of  all  his  glory  ?  A  man  ?   O  pitiful  thing  ! 
Why  did  I  tremble  ?   I  come  to  triumph  here 
And  find  my  conqueror  more  lost  than  I. 

(To  Christ) 

Alas,  O  King,  thou  bought'st  thy  victory  dear 
If  having  vanquished  thou  wast  fain  to  die. 

CHRIST  (to  Lucifer) 

We  both  have  chosen  sorrow.    Therefore  speak 
The  burden  of  thy  heart.     What  seekest  thou  ? 


122  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

LUCIFER 

I  ?     Nothing. 

CHRIST 

For  thyself  thou  dost  not  seek 
That  which  thou  seekest,  for  thou  doest  now 
Another's  errand. 

LUCIFER 

Oh,  then  wherefore  ask 

What  thou  well  knowest,  as  thou  knowest  all, 
And  make  more  grievous  thus  mine  honest  task  ? 
Be  generous,  O  King,  that  if  thou  fall 
Men  may  lament  thy  ruin.      At  thy  gates 
Unhoused,  unheard,  an  unarmed  herald  waits. 
Thy  churlish  warder  would  not  let  him  pass — 
There  comes  he  frowning :  his  poor  brain  debates 
The  point  of  law  and  reckons  up  the  toll — 
Therefore  to  this  strange  kingdom  I,  alas, 
Am  come  with  jarring  words  to  wound  thy  soul. 

SAINT  PETER 

What  I  have  done  is  well.     Authority 
Hath  not  been  laid  upon  me  without  grace 
To  know  my  office.      No,  it  was  not  I 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  123 

That  kept  the  youth  away.     There  is  no  place 
In  heaven  for  his  nature  or  his  race. 

LUCIFER  (looking  about  him) 

O  wonderful !  Where  thieves,  adulterers, 
And  knaves  with  blood-stained  hands,  for  dying  well 
Have  entered  in,  more  welcome  that  they  fell, 
No  star  may  transit  make  that  never  errs 
From  its  true  course,  celestial  sentinel  ! 

SAINT  PETER 

A  perfect  nature  is  its  proper  heaven, 

But  when  the  struggling  spirit,  from  its  fall 

Would  rise  through  penance,  saving  grace  is  given. 

LUCIFER 

Is  not  thy  bosom  still  the  home  of  all, 
Is  not  the  womb  of  night,  by  thy  rays  riven, 
Fruitful  by  thee  ?      Is  not  now  every  star 
A  spark  of  thine  own  life's  incessant  fire, 
And  every  wind  that  sweeps  the  cosmic  lyre 
An  echo  of  thy  heart-beats  felt  afar, 
A  needful  voice  in  thine  eternal  choir  ? 
This  we  believed  when  thou  wast  God  indeed, 


I24  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

But  now  thou  hast  renounced  the  world  entire 
To  be  but  Saviour  to  the  woman's  seed. 

SAINT  PETER 

Mark  how  the  devil  will  misquote  the  creed. 

CHRIST 

When  to  my  breast  I  took  the  universe 
And  from  its  exile  promised  it  return, 
I  bent  to  that  which  most  had  felt  the  curse 
Of  being  other  :  from  the  farthest  bourn 
I  took  the  weakest  up  and  most  forlorn. 
For  there  is  nothing  in  the  infinite 
More  pitiful  than  man  ;  no  mortal  cry 
Comes  with  such  bitter  wailing  through  the  sky. 
Upon  his  brow  alone  the  curse  is  writ 
Of  shame  and  labour  in  divinity. 
In  losing  all  things  he  foreknows  his  loss. 
Therefore  I  made  his  agony  mine  own 
When  I  cried  £//,  dying  on  the  cross. 
I  died  a  man,  yet  not  for  man  alone, 
But  that  all  natures  might  my  peace  receive 
And  learn  that  he  who  laid  on  them  to  live 
Himself  had  suffered  first,  and  felt,  and  known. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  125 

LUCIFER 

If  we  forgive  thee,  then  thou  wilt  forgive, 
Bartering  mercy  ! — But  let  mercy  be, 
I  speak  of  justice.     If  the  vilest  dust 
Assume  the  godhead,  and  its  brother  worm 
Enter  thy  glory,  must  the  purer  form 
Coming  with  innocent  questionings  be  thrust 
Unanswered  from  thy  portals  ?  Is  it  just  ? 
Thou  lovest  men  who  turn  away  from  thee. 
Why  then  despise  the  god  that  dares  to  trust 
His  open  bosom  to  thy  courtesy  ? 

CHRIST 

Wouldst  thou  have  brought  him  were  he    seek 
ing  me  ? 

He  knows  not  of  me,  but  for  love  of  wealth 
And  idle  knowledge  tempts  an  unknown  sea. 
These  are  his  Indies,  and  he  sails  by  stealth 
Borne  on  we  know  what  broad-winged  argosy. 

LUCIFER 

'Tis  true.      Once  in  my  bosom  s  folds  I  brought 
The  wanderer  hither,  but  his  pilot  thought 


126  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

Pointed  the  way,  and  his  bold  spirit  filled 
The  vans  that  bore  him.     To  thy  surly  gate 
I  had  not  sent  him  if  he  had  not  willed. 
He  begged  it  of  me.     I  deny  him  nought. 
Make  not  my  love  a  reason  for  thy  hate. 

CHRIST 

Doth  thy  heart  echo  to  the  dulcet  string 

To  which  the  speech  is  tuned  ?  Thy  care  was  less 

For  other  souls  of  old. 

LUCIFER 

My  heart,  sad  King, 
Is  full  as  thine  of  ancient  bitterness. 
The  wreathed  roses  that  about  it  press 
Are  its  new  crown  of  thorns.  Look,  else,  and  see. 
Why  should  I  make  my  soul  a  mystery 
When  it  is  pure  and  worthier  to  be  known 
Than  all  men  gape  at  in  the  rolling  heaven  ? 
They  think,  since  I  am  just,  my  heart  is  stone. 
Stone  be  it,  yet  for  grief  that  stone  is  riven. 
By  the  world's  shame  into  the  desert  driven, 
I  live  in  torment,  for  I  live  alone. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  127 

Alone  in  thought  I  fathomed  the  false  deeps 

Of  old  pretension  and  alone  I  rose, 

For  they  that  followed  are  in  truth  my  foes. 

Alone  I  stand  in  nature,  for  she  sleeps 

And  leaves  me  the  large  treasure  of  her  woes. 

Hunger  for  love  is  still  our  misery 

Whether  we  feed  it  or  we  feed  it  not. 

Thinking  of  that,  in  patience  of  my  lot, 

I  sat  upon  a  crag  above  the  sea — 

The  vultures  fly  in  terror  from  the  spot 

It  doth  so  whisper  of  eternity — 

When  Hermes,  angel  to  his  father  Jove, 

Set  foot  to  plume  his  wing  upon  the  steep. 

For  many  leagues  the  bitter  wind  he  clove 

And  found  no  other  island  in  the  deep. 

Marvelling,  I  questioned  him.     What  care  could 

keep 

His  youth  in  exile  from  the  vernal  grove? 
No  vines  upon  so  gaunt  a  ruin  creep, 
No  Nereid  sports  in  such  an  icy  cove. 
He  feared  me  not,  but  smiled  at  what  I  said, 
Nor  marked  the  ominous  thunderbolts  that  played 
Ceaseless  above  me ;  all  I  chanced  to  ask 


iz8  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

He  freely  answered,  hiding  nothing;  laid 
His  warm  hand  in  my  hand,  and  his  fair  head 
Upon  my  flinty  pillow ;  told  what  task 
The  gods  had  laid  upon  him — to  explore 
The  sea  of  space  and  every  luminous  isle 
That  in  its  waters  swims,  from  shore  to  shore, 
And  to  make  trial  of  what  secret  powers 
Might  lurk  in  Nature's  womb,  what  realms  stretch 

out 

Through  space  beyond  this  twinkling  vault  of  ours; 
For  meditation  ended  still  in  doubt. 
He  spoke,  and  speaking  wove  a  net  about 
My  thought-sick    heart,    and    at   his    breath  new 

flowers 

Sprang  in  my  fancy,  barren  long  with  drought. 
The  fragrance  of  the  past  came  back  to  me 
Laden  with  joys.     I  saw  these  courts  again, 
And  through  the  silence  of  my  charmed  pain 
Burst  snatches  of  an  ancient  harmony. 
It  loosed  amain  the  floodgates  of  my  youth 
To  see  his  beauty  and  angelic  mind 
So  like  my  comrades  lost,  and  I  resigned 
My  will  to  his,  and  told  him  all  the  truth. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  129 

And  as  an  eagle,  old  and  hoarse  and  blind, 

Turns  his  young  fledglings'  eyes  to  the  sun's  fire, 

Proud  they  should  relish  the  ancient  fierce  delight, 

So  have  I  led  my  loved  one  higher  and  higher 

Till  mine  own  heaven  opened  to  his  sight. 

Alas,  I  deemed  those  glories  ever  bright 

And  find  them  now  tear-tarnished.    How  require 

His  simple  soul  to  read  this  riddle  right? 

'Tis  well  thy  gate  is  shut,  for  with  disgust 

He    would    have    turned    him   from    this   ghostly 

throng, 

Nor  would  his  sense  have  found  the  measure  just 
Of  the  so  mournful  passion  of  their  song. 

CHRIST 
Lead  him  hence  quickly,  if  thou  be  his  friend. 

LUCIFER 

He  seeks  the  truth,  and  this  is  thy  reply? 

CHRIST 

Reason  not  of  him.   What  is  he  to  us  ? 
Speak  of  thyself  if  thou  art  come  to-day 
To  crave  a  grace.     For  him  'tis  hazardous 


1 3o  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

To  loiter  here,  beyond  the  tepid  ray 

Of  his  own  yellow  star,     'Twere  better  thus. 

LUCIFER 

Happier  is  he,  O  King,  than  thou  or  I 
Who  cannot  hope,  for  we  behold  the  end. 

CHRIST 

His  paradise  hath  no  forbidden  tree. 
While  there  he  ranges  he  is  safe  from  harm, 
But  if  he  venture,  trusting  in  thine  arm, 
Into  the  infinite,  his  choice  must  be 
Either  to  die  or  to  believe  in  me. 

LUCIFER 

What !  dost  thou  threaten  ?   Dost  thou  think  to  lay 
Bold  hands  upon  him  ?   Look  to  what  thou  dost ! 
Where  are  thine  armies  now  ?    Where  that  array 
Thy  trumpets  marshalled  once  ?  Lost !   Mortal  clay 
Clogs  thine  own  soul.     Thy  long-sheathed  sword 

is  rust, 

And  all  thy  silver  clarions  choke  with  dust. 
These  vaults,  these  bastions,  of  themselves  decay, 
Crack,  crumble,  rock,  methinks,  to  hide  for  shame 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  131 

The  rabble  that  they  house.   Women  and  friars 
Fight  for  thee  now.  Nor  deem  my  lance  the  same 
That  broke  once  in  my  hand ;  'tis  purged  with  fires, 
Unflinching  steel,  thrice  tempered  in  the  flame. 
That  he  will  die,  I  know ;  but  not  alone. 
Thou,  who  wouldst  seem   to   guide   the   hand  of 

death, 

Shalt  fall  beneath  the  sickle.     Every  groan 
Scatters  thine  irrecoverable  breath 
Into  the  vast  inane.     Merciful  death 
Hushes  all  sorrow,  and  will  hush  thine  own. 
Would  he  might  lay  his  magic  hand  on  me, 
Seal  mine  eyes,  too,  and  turn  my  heart  to  stone ! 
He  cannot.  For  while  truth  is,  I  must  be. 

CHRIST 

Unteachable  !  Is  God  not  Lord  of  Hosts  ? 
The  arrows  that  against  his  bosom  fly 
His  own  strength  drives,  and  in  thy  mutiny 
He  triumphs,  and  is  mighty  in  thy  boasts. 
What  need  of  sentinel  to  guard  the  shore 
When  he  is  master  of  the  embosoming  sea, 
When  his  the  wave,  the  bark,  the  sail,  the  oar, 


1 32  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

And  his  the  sinews  of  his  enemy  ? 

O  Lucifer,  couldst  thou  behold  thy  soul 

As  it  lies  open  to  my  Father's  sight, 

The  gathering  clouds  of  pity  fast  would  roll 

Across  thine  eyes,  to  hide  thy  proper  plight, 

And  rain  on  thy  parched  heart  in  showers  light 

Of  sweet  humility.     Woe  to  the  vain 

And  raging  will  that  hugs  its  mortal  pain ! 

Is  it  for  thee  to  fathom  wrong  and  right  ? 

'Tis  God  who  spun  the  fibres  of  thy  brain 

And  wove  thy  reason;  had  he  placed  awry 

One  thread,  new  dreams  had  turned  thy  dreams  to 

naught 

And  idle  thought  confounded  idle  thought 
For  ever,  and  none  questioned  destiny. 
Now  thine  own  tyrant,  to  thyself  unkind, 
Thou  chafest  at  the  limits  of  thy  wit 
Whose  meek  quietus  were  to  live  resigned 
And  serve  the  elder  Will  that  fashioned  it. 
For  in  the  bosom  of  the  infinite 
Thou  hast  thy  life,  and  thy  forsaken  woes, 
Like  foam  on  the  false  bosom  of  a  wave, 
Rise  in  vain  fury,  impotently  rave 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  133 

A  moment  only.     Then  thy  proud  will  goes 
Whither  the  billow  sinks  or  the  wind  blows. 

LUCIFER  (turning  to  go} 

Thou  wastest  words. 

CHRIST 

Await  my  last  reply. 

That  which  is  written  shall  be  now  fulfilled. 
To  all  the  spirits  of  the  earth  and  sky 
My  grace  extends.     The  Father  ever  willed 
They  should  be  gathered  to  him  in  the  end. 
And  as  he  sent  me  once  to  those  who  fell 
To  those  who  fell  not  he  will  also  send. 
I  went  to  earth  in  sorrow,  and  to  hell 
I  went  in  death,  a  ghost  to  call  a  ghost. 
In  peace  I  now  will  go  to  those  that  dwell 
In  peace  upon  Olympus,  that  the  host 
Of  heaven's  sentinels  may  know  the  Lord. 
Let  Hermes  to  his  father  bear  my  word 
And  prophesy  my  coming. 

LUCIFER 

Thou  wilt  go 

To  them  thyself  and  thou  wilt  not  receive 
Him  they  have  sent  thee  ? 


134  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

CHRIST 

He  should  first  believe. 

LUCIFER 

Believe  ?     Full  well  thou  knowest,  as  I  know, 

He  never  can  believe.     It  is  too  gross 

And  palpable  a  fiction,  fit  for  those 

Who  dream  awake.     And  must  I  leave  him  so  ? 

Hell  in  revolt  and  heaven  in  disdain 

Shut  in  his  face,  and  my  great  vow  quite  vain? 

Behold  how  time,  the  keen  inquisitor, 

Hath  stopped  my  torture  to  increase  my  pain ! 

Fool  that  I  was  to  buckle  on  once  more 

The  harness  of  the  world  !     Remember,  heart, 

Remember  not  to  love. 

CHRIST 

Thou  temptedst  me, 

Satan,  of  old.     Now  I  have  tempted  thee. 
Thrice  didst  thou  try  me,  thrice  with  divers  art 
Woo  me  to  evil;  thrice  I  turned  away. 
But  I  have  tried  thee  and  enticed  with  good 
And  thou  hast  yielded  twice,  and  shalt  to-day 
Yield  the  third  time. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  135 

LUCIFER 

Nay,  by  high  heaven!   Say, 
When  have  I  yielded  ? 

CHRIST 

In  thy  solitude 

I  found  thee  hungry  and  thou  turn'dst  to  bread 
The  stone  I  showed  thee.     It  was  I  that  led 
An  angel  to  thee.     It  was  I  that  stirred 
Thy  heart  with  longing  at  the  words  he  said 
Though  he  meant  nothing ;  and  it  was  my  word 
Made  thee  renounce  thine  anger,  and  confess 
Thy  need  of  love. 

LUCIFER 

Thou  sayest  it  was  thou. 
I  know  it  not. 

CHRIST 

A  second  time  but  now 
I  showed  thee  hell  and  its  unrighteousness, 
And  tempted  thee  to  cast  thy  kingdom  off 
For  a  just  life;  and  in  that  trial's  stress 
A  second  time  I  vanquished. 


136  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

LUCIFER 

I  might  scoff, 

But  that  which  vanquished  was  a  holy  thing, 
And  even  thou  if  thou  usurp  its  name 
Shalt  find  me  patient. 

CHRIST 

A  third  time  I  bring 

Thy  spirit  to  the  proof.      I  shall  proclaim 
My  godhead  in  Olympus  and  their  king 
And  all  his  sons  shall  hear  me.     If  they  came 
And  did  me  homage,  trusting  what  they  heard, 
And  in  their  ignorance  of  primal  things 
Honoured  my  witness  and  received  my  word, 
Hermes  among  them — would  their  faith  suffice 
To  bring  thee  with  them  to  the  king  of  kings  ? 
Or  would  thy  pride  refuse  to  pay  the  price  ? 

LUCIFER 

'Tis  a  vain  question.     Why  should  I  decide  ? 
They  never  can  submit. 

CHRIST 

Nay,  answer  me. 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  137 

LUCIFER 

Think  not  to  triumph  over  my  just  pride 
With  indirection,  for  it  shall  not  be. 
Of  my  own  will  I  have  renewed  my  soul 
And  to  my  love  and  not  to  thy  control 
I  gave  a  short  and  doubtful  mastery. 
True,  I  am  weary.     My  eternal  flight 
Finds  not  a  resting-place  in  all  the  world. 
Against  the  void  1  have  disdained  to  fight, 
My  heart  is  silent,  and  my  wings  are  furled. 
But  locked  within  the  consciousness  of  right 
For  ever  lives,  and  though  I  wear  again 
My  natural  glory  in  the  realms  of  light, 
Yet  in  my  bosom's  hushed  and  secret  shrine 
I  celebrate  my  sacrament  of  pain, 
And  as  thine  altars  in  meek  bread  and  wine 
Repeat  thy  bloody  sacrifice  again, 
So  in  my  silence  I  remember  mine. 
Oh,  there  is  little  in  the  world  can  add 
Now  to  my  doom ;  and  even  if  thou  stole 
The  only  good  that  yet  might  touch  my  soul 
I  do  not  think  that  it  could  make  me  sad; 


138  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

Nay,  happy  rather.     Take,  yes,  take  the  boy 
For  ever  from  me.     Make  the  whole  world  mad, 
And  let  all  worship  thee  and  find  their  joy 
In  what  I  know  is  false.      For  that  is  life. 
And  never  let  a  glimmer  of  my  doubt 
Disturb  his  faith ;  abolish  quite  the  strife 
Of  reason  in  him;  blot  my  being  out. 
Bring  back  thy  demons  from  the  pit  of  hell 
To  dwell  in  plenty ;  uproot  the  cancerous  vice 
I  planted  in  their  bosoms,  and  dispel 
Their  long  delusion.     Let  my  pangs  suffice 
Thine  anger.      In  the  place  where  I  shall  dwell, 
Sole  victim  of  an  endless  sacrifice, 
It  then  will  comfort  me  to  be  alone, 
For  I  shall  hear  no  other  spirit  moan 
In  the  wide  world  where  all  was  misery. 

CHRIST 

The  third  time,  Satan,  do  I  vanquish  thee. 
Thou  yieldest  in  my  hands,  lest  it  should  perish, 
Thy  single  joy.     Why  yield  me  not  thy  pain? 
Is  evil  more  than  good,  that  thou  shouldst  cherish 
Thy  misery?     Shall  wrath  alone  remain? 


AcrJV  LUCIFER  139 

LUCIFER 

That  cannot  yield  which  is  invincible. 
This  wrath  is  I;  I  am  this  pain  and  hell. 

CHRIST 

All  can  believe.     It  is  not  faith  to  know, 
It  is  not  faith  to  trust  when  all  is  sure, 
But,  knowing  not,  to  venture  and  endure. 
Thou,  Satan,  when  I  gave  thee  long  ago 
The  call  of  faith,  didst  ask  me  for  a  sign. 
The  sign  I  gave  thee  was  that  thou  wast  mine 
And  I  was  thine;  for  love  can  also  know. 
Thou  wast  too  happy  in  thy  lordly  mind, 
Too  rich  in  thy  fond  reason,  for  belief. 
Now  thou  art  wiser,  having  tasted  grief, 
And  partly  seeing,  being  partly  blind, 
Art  willing  to  be  led.      Me  thou  didst  scorn 
In  the  proud  days  of  thy  tranquillity, 
Who  was  thy  God,  not  yet  of  woman  born, 
And  now,  behold,  a  child  is  leading  thee, 
So  lowly  is  thy  plight  and  so  forlorn. 
Yet  this  repentance  in  thy  sorrow's  stress, 
If  thou  hold  fast  and  suffer  to  the  end, 


I4o  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

Shall  be  accounted  thee  for  righteousness. 
Thou  lovest  me,  when  thou  dost  love  thy  friend, 
And  what  thou  doest  to  the  least  of  these 
Thou  doest  unto  me. 

LUCIFER  (kneeling) 

Spare  me,  O  Lord. 

Spare  me,  I  pray  thee  on  my  stubborn  knees  ! 
Why  wilt   thou,  in  mere  vengeance,  plunge  this 

sword 

So  deep  into  my  heart  ?      Hath  thine  not  bled  ? 
By  the  remembrance  of  our  glory  fled, 
By  that  long  morning  of  felicity 
Ere  thou  or  I  had  ever  bowed  the  head, 
Yea,  by  those  joys  that  never  shall  be  more, 
And  by  the  ghost  of  trust  and  honour  dead, 
Spare  me,  O  Lord.  (Rises) 

No ;  this  can  never  be. 

Thou  knowest  it.      It  ne'er  can  come  again, 
That  ancient  life,  nor  can  my  faithful  pain 
Be  swallowed  up  in  empty  mockery. 
Yet  I  confess  to  thee  thy  victory, 
If  such  it  be.     For  when  the  heart  is  weak 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER 


141 


There  is  no  honour  in  a  swaggering  tongue. 
Mine  ever  spoke  the  truth,  and  now  shall  speak, 
Although  my  heart  in  speaking  it  be  wrung, 
And  in  thy  temples  a  new  hymn  be  sung 
How  Lucifer  was  vanquished.     Go,  persuade, 
Persuade  all  other  gods  to  worship  thee, 
Or  him  alone  who  (as  it  seems)  was  made 
The  unwitting  herald  of  thy  grace  to  me  : 
If  he  believe  and  enter  through  the  gate 
His  faith  has  opened,  I  will  follow  him, 
Resume  my  throne  and  wear  my  old  estate, 
Making  thy  glory  bright,  which  shows  so  dim. 
For  I  have  wholly  understood  my  fate, 
And  know  there  is  not  in  this  scheme  of  things 
Room  for  my  soul.    Then  why  not  hide  it  here  ? 
But  nothing  shall  be  true  to  me,  or  dear, 
Of  what  the  vision  of  thy  glory  brings  : 
The  words  of  prophets  and  the  deeds  of  kings, 
Like  rustling  leaves,  a  pleasing  noise  at  best, 
The  fruit  of  all  the  anguish  of  the  years, 
Nor  truth,  nor  hope,  nor  certainty,  nor  rest, 
But  only  laughter  in  my  hollow  breast, 
Laughter,  and  in  the  night  a  gust  of  tears 


1 42  LUCIFER  ACT  IV 

0  scorn,  O  pity,  that  the  heart  must  teem 
With  these  false  joys,  these  troubles  of  a  dream  ! 
Why  troop   the    wailing    phantoms    through    my 

soul  ? 

Why  wake  the  echoing  caverns  of  my  mind 
To  sound  of  warring,  cloud-compelling  wind  ? 
All  things  are  parts  of  me,  and  I  the  whole; 
And  if  entangled  in  the  web  I  weave 
To  stars  or  gods  or  men  I  yield  control 
Over  my  heart,  and  bowing  down  believe, 
Me  headlong  in  their  dance  of  death  they  roll 
And  with  perpetual  mockeries  deceive. 
Steadfast  I  therefore  stand,  enwrapped  about 
As  with  this  mantle  in  my  large  despair, 
And  armed  as  with  this  lance  by  piercing  doubt 

1  scorn  the  gathering  armies  of  the  air. 
In  midst  of  battles  islanded  in  peace, 
And  firm  beneath  the  ruins  of  the  sky, 
I  live  by  truth,  as  ye  by  falsehood  die. 

The  wreck  of  worlds  is  my  supreme  release, 
The  death  of  gods  mine  immortality. 

(Exit) 


ACT  IV  LUCIFER  143 

THE  ANGELS  SING 

God  gave  us  grace  to  love 
The  earth,  the  sea,  the  starry  air, 
But  woe  to  him  whose  love  remaineth  there, 
Nor  flies  to  rest  above 
In  the  Eternal  Fair. 

CHRIST 

I  breathed  the  breath  of  life 
Into  thy  nostrils,  but  in  vain, 
Unless  for  love  thou  render  it  again. 
Else  comes  no  rest  from  strife, 
Nor  any  peace  to  pain. 

THE  ANGELS  SING 

I  loved  them — where  are  they  ? — 
That  led  me,  loving  them,  to  thee, 
Who  only  art  my  joy  or  failest  me* 
My  loves  have  passed  away 
From  earth  and  air  and  sea 


ACT  FIFTH 

SCENE  FIRST 

THE  PALACE  OF  ZEUS  UPON  OLYMPUS.      A  HALL  SUR 
ROUNDED    BY    COLUMNS.        BEYOND,    THE    OPEN    SKY.       ON 

ONE  SIDE,  THE  THRONE  OF  ZEUS.  OPPOSITE,  A  GROUP 
OF  NYMPHS,  ATTENDANTS  OF  ATHENA,  AT  THEIR  HANDI 
WORK.  AMONG  THEM  ATHENA  AND  APHRODITE,  WHO, 

BEARING  LONG  GARLANDS  OF  ROSES,   RISES  AS  IF  TO  GO. 

ATHENA 

Stay,  Aphrodite  ;  do  not  leave  us  thus. 
Hermes,  methinks,  is  on  his  homeward  way 
With  answers  from  that  King.     Abide  with  us. 

APHRODITE 

I  have  seen  men  before,  dear  Maid.     They  say 
This  is  a  man. 

ATHENA 

Half  man,  half  marvellous 
God  of  the  heavens.     I  beseech  thee,  stay. 

144 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  145 

APHRODITE 

Since  this  new  business  filleth  night  and  day 

I  find  no  solace  in  Olympus  more. 

I  go  to  Paphos.     Haply  in  that  isle 

Men  doubt  not  yet  what  spirits  to  adore, 

Nor  urge  new  questions.     I  would  rest  awhile. 

ATHENA 

How  the  alloy  of  Oriental  ore 
Shows  in  thy  golden  heart,  in  spite  of  time  ! 
Do  we  not  love  thee  ?     Could  a  sultry  clime 
Prone  sloth  and  revels  make  thee  happy  now  ? 
No.    Thou  wouldst  lack  the  calm  illumined  brow 
And  holy  lips  of  Zeus,  and  me,  thy  friend. 
Thou  knowest  how  this  enterprise  began. 
Stay  by  us  now,  and  see  its  wondrous  end. 

APHRODITE 

Well,  be  it  so.     But  speak  not  of  the  man. 
'Tis  that  thou  askest,  and  the  hour  grows  late 
To  start  to-day.  Alas  !  I  know  not  why 
The  doubt  pursues  me  that  it  may  be  fate 
That  I  should  never  see  my  native  sky. 


146  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

0  heavy  bondage,  though  a  silver  chain 
Fetter  the  exile  to  a  golden  throne. 

1  would  go  forth,  I  would  be  free  again 
Unwatched,  uncensured,  unbeloved,  alone. 
Here  every  morning  with  the  same  sweet  note 
The  bugle  blows  at  sunrise ;  every  eve 

Pass  the  same  solemn  gods,  that  Zeus  receive 
His  daily  homage  ;  the  same  cloudlets  float 
In  the  same  luminous  ether ;  the  same  dreams 
Visit  the  sleeping  dryads  by  the  streams, 
And  from  the  same  high  crag  the  same  remote 
Unheeded  melancholy  vulture  screams. 
Oh,  I  should  die,  did  not  my  lover  come, 
Ares,  from  battle,  and  fling  down  his  crest 
And  bloody  harness  on  the  marble  floor, 
Startling  as  with  a  lion's  roar  the  dumb 
Cool  cloister  rafters,  and  still  red  with  gore 
Rush  like  a  child  upon  my  heaving  breast. 
Then  I  am  happy  and  forget  the  rest. 
With  gentle  palm  I  close  his  bloodshot  eyes 
That  still  shoot  fire,  and  wash  away  with  care 
The  sweat  and  clotted  blood,  and  with  my  hair 
Dry  all  again;  and  if  some  splinter  lies 


ACT  V  LUCIFER 

Deep  in  the  quivering  flesh,  or  some  sharp  thorn, 
I  pick  it  out,  and  where  the  skin  is  torn 
I  pour  rich  drops  of  nectar  on  the  place 
Till  the  wound  heals.     Oh,  then  'tis  paradise 
To  watch  the  sweetness  creep  into  his  face ! 
Alas!  alas! 

ATHENA 

If  happy  love  so  sighs, 
How  shall  unhappy  lovers  breathe  their  woes? 

APHRODITE 

They  say  there  is  a  thorn  in  every  rose, 
But  that  is  false ;  for  see,  these  roses  here 
Prick  not  my  fingers  as  I  weave  the  crown. 
I  cut  the  thorns  off  first.     Look,  sister  dear, 
And  in  thy  book  of  wisdom  set  that  down. 

ATHENA 

I  will,  and  guard  my  soul  as  thou  thy  flesh, 
Unhappy  sister,  lest  thy  wreaths  enmesh 
My  strength  and  reason.    Hera  comes.    Her  frown 
Will  grow  but  darker,  if  she  see  thee  weep. 

(Athena  draws  Aphrodite  to  a  seat  beside  her,  and  dries  her  tears. 
Enter  Hera.) 


148  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

HERA 

Thy  father,  Pallas,  hath  not  tasted  sleep 

Since  Hermes'  putting  forth,  but  racks  his  mind 

With  dim  forebodings. 

(She  turns  to  observe  the  sky) 

The  eyes'  utmost  sweep 
Spies  not  a  speck  in  all  this  depth  of  air. 
To  women's  warning  men  are  rashly  blind, 
Else  had  he  never  started.     It  is  cold 
In  those  disconsolate  regions ;  the  ether  rare 
Cheateth  the  breath,  the  wings  will  not  upbear. 
How  mad  a  venture,  when  all  signs  foretold 
Some  evil ! 

ATHENA 

Pray,  fair  Hera,  do  not  grieve. 
Our  crafty  herald  will  in  time  return. 

HERA 

Apollo  will  not  speak.     He  must  discern 
His  brother's  fate,  but  will  not  undeceive 
A  hapless  father  with  the  dreaded  truth. 
There  stretch  the  kingdoms  of  eternal  snow 
Where  savage  tyrants  rule,  unchaste,  uncouth, 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  149 

Who  for  no  ransom  let  the  stranger  go. 
Thy  father  comes.     If  gentle  Hermes  dies 
He  will  go  mad.     Too  much  his  heart  hath  fed 
On  these  wild  thoughts.     Behold  his  bended  head 
And  voiceless  lips  that  mumble  prophecies 
Dishonoured  long  ago.     With  stealthy  tread 
He  makes  perpetually  the  bastions'  round, 
And  lists  to  sound  of  wings  or  any  sound 
For  tidings  of  his  son.     He  loves  you  both. 
Go  to  him,  speak.     Dispel  his  sullen  mood 
And  the  dark  dream  on  which  his  vigils  brood. 
My  words,  alas,  he  flouteth.     I  am  loath 
To  feed  his  choler.     Ay,  my  lips  are  dumb, 
But  my  heart  saith,  the  worst  is  yet  to  come. 

(Exit) 
(Enter  Zeus.    Athena  and  Aphrodite  advance  to  meet  him) 

ATHENA 

Father,  thou  comest  fitly  to  dissuade 
Our  friend  from  an  ill  purpose. 

APHRODITE 

'Tis  not  ill. 
I  long  have  nursed  the  hope  I  now  fulfil. 


150  LUCIFER  AcrV 

ATHENA 

She  would  depart. 

APHRODITE 

For  a  brief  time,  dear  Maid. 

ZEUS 

The  time  is  chosen  well ;  this  is  the  season 
When  courtiers  leave  a  king. 

ATHENA 

When  his  renown 
Spreads  to  new  regions  ? 

ZEUS 

When  he  pawns  his  crown. 

ATHENA 

What  words  are  these  ?    Thine  own  thoughts  hatch 
this  treason. 

ZEUS 

Is  he  not  living,  that  invisible  god 
That  drove  our  image  from  the  soul  of  man  ? 
I  know  the  time  when  first  his  fame  began 


AcrV  LUCIFER  151 

And  Sinai  shook,  unshaken  by  my  nod, 
And  through  the  wilderness  a  caravan 
Bore  jealously  his  ark. 

ATHENA 

Let  these  things  be. 
What  terror  hath  the  tale,  that  Jove  should  stare  ? 

ZEUS 

Where  doth  he  lurk?     The  unfathomable  air 

Doth  not  contain  him,  nor  the  monstrous  sea, 

And  when  I  searched  in  hell  he  was  not  there. 

My  brothers  portioned  out  the  world  with  me 

And  we  left  nought  but  the  intangible 

And  barren  night,  where  nothing  good  might  dwell, 

Not  subject  to  our  sceptre;  but  from  thence, 

Alas,  ariseth  now  the  dread  offence. 

Evil  is  laid  on  us  at  birth ;  the  spell 

Broods  silent  on  us,  thickening  to  the  dread 

Ordained  finish.     When  my  father  fell 

He  cursed  me,  for  his  father,  dead,  long  dead, 

Had  cursed  him  so.     The  one  my  hand  avenged, 

The  other's  curse  now  hangs  above  my  head. 


152  LUCIFER  AcrV 

ATHENA 

For  shame,  good  Father.     Is  thy  mind  estranged  ? 
I,  though  a  woman,  cannot  know  such  fear. 
This  sombre  god  hath  lived  for  many  a  year 
Lost  in  his  cloud-land.     Let  him  there  live  on. 
What's  that  to  us  ?     He  will  not  face  us  here, 
Or,  if  he  doth,  he  will  be  gladly  gone. 
The  Indian  Caucasus  is  full  of  ghosts, 
For  I  have  chased  them  oft  from  peak  to  peak 
With  laughter  and  the  prick  of  my  bright  spear. 
Before  the  ^Egis  fly  their  gibbering  hosts, 
Rending  the  woeful  night  with  many  a  shriek; 
Yet  each  is  a  great  wizard. 

ZEUS 

Brave  words  these, 
But  vain  to  help  us  in  an  evil  hour. 
O  parent  sky,  shed  light  upon  my  heart! 
O  kindred  deep,  replenish  with  thy  power 
The  fountains  of  my  joy  ! 

(Re-enter  Hera>  following  a  Herald} 
HERALD 

See,  see  him  dart. 


AerV  LUCIFER  153 

HERA 

Where? 

HERALD 

There,  to  the  west,  good  mistress. 

HERA 

That  bird  there? 

ZEUS  (who  has  joined  them,  looking- to  the  sky) 

It  is  his  plunge.     I  know  the  motion,  I. 

None  other  of  my  sons  so  cleaves  the  air, 

As  if  an  arrow  thinkingly  should  fly, 

Dodging  the  denser  cloud.     Now  with  sly  speed 

He  finds  the  rifts  of  navigable  sky, 

Now  diving  rends  the  thinner  mist  asunder, 

With  radiant  visage  laughing  at  the  wonder. 

Ay,  'tis  my  messenger. 

HERA 

It  is,  indeed. 

Ah  me  !  how  many  pangs  and  errors  pave 
The  way  to  doubtful  peace. 

(Enter  Hermes) 
ATHENA 

Happy  the  brave, 

For  either  victory  crowns  their  venturous  deed 
Or  fame  their  failure. 


154  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

ALL 

Welcome. 

ZEUS 

Welcome,  son. 

Glad  are  mine   eyes  to  see  thee.     They  will  close 
Content  to-night. 

ATHENA 

But  hast  thou  met  with  foes  ? 
Where  hast  thou  tarried  ?     Is  thine  errand  done  ? 

HERA 

At  least   thou    hast  no   wound  ?      Thou  art   not 
maimed  ? 

ZEUS 

Leave  the  poor  boy  awhile.     You  will  be  blamed, 
Fair  goddesses,  to  ply  your  questions  now. 
The  beaded  sweat  is  standing  on  his  brow, 
And  still  he  pants  for  breath.    Ho!  fetch  him  first 
The  nectared  cup,  that  he  perform  the  vow, 
Home-coming,  to  the  god,  and  quench  his  thirst. 

HERMES  (taking  the  cup  that  is  brought  to  him) 

Olympus,  and  ye  elder  gods  that  keep 
Invisible  watch  about  this  hallowed  dome, 


AcrV  LUCIFER  155 

Receive  your  child.     Guard  ye  my  toil,  my  sleep. 
Fly  with  my  flight,  defend  and  lead  me  home. 

(He  pours  a  libation  and  drinks} 
ZEUS 

Send  forth  a  crier.     Be  it  known  to  all 
That  Hermes  is  returned. 

HERALD  (blowing  a  bugle) 

Ho  !   Hermes  is  returned  ! 

(  The  cry  is  echoed  in  the   distance.     The  gods  gather,   and  group 
themselves  in  a  circle  before  Zeus,  who  has  mounted  his  throne.) 

ZEUS  (to  Hermes) 

Speak  now.  So  shall  the  praises  thou  hast  earned 
Sound  as  is  fit. 

HERMES 

In  sooth,  the  praise  is  small, 
For  thus  it  chanced.     I  passed  the  empty  main 
Led  by  a  subtle  guide.     I  saw  again, 
More  near  at  hand,  what  belfries  from  afar 
Lucifer  showed  me,  when  he  cast  a  spell 
Over  mv  soul  and  first  I  saw  the  star. 


156  LUCIFER  AcrV 

ATHENA 

How  gladly  would  I  view  the  miracle  ! 

HERMES 

'Twere  worth  thy  pains.     For  if  to  Babylon 

Thou  addest  Nineveh  and  Thebes  by  Nile, 

With  silvering  moonbeams  falling  full  upon, 

And  raisest  Zion  on  them,  then  the  pile 

Were  half  as  vast  and  intricate  with  spires 

As  the  embattled  and  cloud-girded  isle 

Where  that  god  dwells,  with  all  his  winged  choirs. 

ZEUS 
And  didst  thou  enter  in  ? 

HERMES 

It  was  forbidden. 

ZEUS 

Then  is  thy  message  undelivered  ? 

HERMES 

Nay, 

Lucifer  passed  through  the  wide  gates ;  but  hidden 
Magical  bolts,  if  I  pressed,  barred  the  way. 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  157 

HERA 

O  evil  omen! 

ZEUS 
Brought  he  no  reply  ? 

HERMES 

This  only  :  that  the  King  himself  would  come 
Here  to  our  midst,  and  answer  us. 


ZEUS 

But  how  ? 

Can  all  his  legions  pass  the  infinite  sky  ? 


HERMES 

I  know  no  more.     For  Lucifer  was  dumb. 
Issuing  from  thence  with  thunder-laden  brow, 
He  seized  me  as  thine  eagles  seize  a  lamb, 
With  sudden  swoop,  and  hid  me  in  his  arms,      . 
And  with  no  further  word  through  the  abyss 
Bore  me,  and  through  the  zone  obscure  of  charms 
That  hems  that  sphere,  ere  yet  the  lights  of  this 
Gladden  the  eyes.     When  Hesper  'gan  to  shine 
I  cried  in  joy,  c  I  see  my  star  ' ;  and  he, 
Spreading  his  arms  to  give  me  liberty, 


158  LUCIFER  AcrV 

Answered,  afar  already,  c  I  see  mine.' 
I  turned.     Nor  he,  nor  his  pale  star  was  there, 
Only  a  solemn  sound  of  rushing  wind 
Retreating ;  and  alone,  with  laden  mind, 
Homeward  I  journeyed  through  the  sweetening  air. 

ZEUS 

Blind  were  your  counsels,  children.    Doubly  blind 
My  doting  heart. 

ATHENA 

And  blinder  thy  despair. 
Let  this  god  come,  if  haply  come  he  dare, 
And  what  is  lost  ? 

ZEUS 

Our  peace  is  lost.  Henceforth 
We  never  shall  know  sleep,  were't  but  the  thought 
That  from  the  cloud-land  and  the  bitter  north 
Some  monstrous  shape  might  come.     But  this  is 

fraught 

With  greater  dangers.     He  may  now  descend 
With  all  his  legions  on  us.    Who  can  know 
How  against  magic  we  should  then  defend 
These  ancient  walls  ?   Perchance  we  touch  our  end. 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  1 59 

Let  us  not  meet  it  basely.     Long  ago, 
Alone,  I  slew  the  Titans  and  with  cords 
I  bound  the  hoary  tyrants.     Sons,  to  arms  ! 
Keep  diligent  watch  and  burnish  bright  your  swords, 
And  fix  keen  brazen  heads  upon  your  spears, 
But  temper  most  your  souls,  for  'tis  by  charms 
And  traitorous  thoughts,  and  heart-corroding  fears, 
That  this  new  enemy  works.     Be  ye  but  brave, 
And  all  worth  saving  in  yourselves  ye  save. 
Away  !  To  arms  ! 

(Exeunt  all  but  Zeus  and  Hera) 
HERA 

Wilt  thou  now  trust  my  tears, 
Hard-hearted,  whom  no  word  of  mine  could  move  ? 
It  is  not  I  alone  have  vouched  for  this, 
Apollo  saw  him. 

ZEUS 

Show  me  where  he  is, 

If  he  be  here.     Each  palace,  grove,  and  grot, 
•I  have  had  searched. 

HERA 

He  cannot  thus  be  found, 
But  I  have  seen  him,  though  I  sought  him  not, 


160  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

As  in  a  dream.     I  cannot  tell  the  spot, 
Or  say  whether  he  flew  or  trod  the  ground. 
The  form  pursues  me  like  a  secret  crime 
Where'er  I  go.     I  dare  not  lift  mine  eyes 
For  fear  to  look  on  him  a  second  time. 
Apollo  also  in  his  rhapsodies 
Of  late  evokes  the  ghost ;  or  from  the  ground 
As  exhalations  to  the  moon  arise, 
Or  from  the  very  potency  of  sound, 
It  shapes  itself  before  his  haggard  eyes 
Into  a  thing  of  meaning. 

ZEUS 

Fantasies. 

Both  he  and  thou  have  ever  been  abused 
By  turbid  humours.     Prophets  are  the  curse 
Of  kings.     When  young  men  gape,  amused 
With  dreams  and  marvels,  kingdoms  are  undone. 
Peace  to  these  woman's  ravings.   There  is  worse 
To  fear.     We  must  seek  out  a  greater  foe. 
Leave  me  awhile  to  my  heart's  counsel.     Go. 

(Exit  Hera) 


AcrV  LUCIFER  161 

ZEUS 

Intolerable  doubt !  What  stratagem 

Hath  this  god  planned,  that  proffers  coming  here 

And  cometh  not,  nor  giveth  ear  to  them 

We  send  with  gifts  and  greetings  ?    Much  I  fear 

His  onset  in  the  night,  while  evil  dreams 

Benumb  our  courage.     Is  his  flight  misled, 

Unused  to  ford  the  rushing  ether-streams 

That  part  our  kingdoms  ?     Is  he  lost  or  dead  ? 

My  winged  boy  himself  could  hardly  thread 

That  labyrinth  of  shadows,  ere  to-day 

He  had  come  else. — Ah  me,  what  have  I  said  ? 

Perhaps  it  is  my  own  blind  heart  that  errs, 

Perhaps  these  weak  unbidden  thoughts  that  prey 

Upon  my  quiet  are  his  messengers, 

His  shafts  that  find  a  quick  and  magic  way 

To  my  defenceless  soul.     He  may  be  here, 

And  in  my  sister's  madness  and  my  son's 

Begin  to  work  my  ruin,  while  he  shuns 

My  stronger  eyes. — If  thou  be  true,  appear, 

Insidious  foe,  and  poison  not  my  life 

With  evil  rumours.     Better  open  strife 


i6z  LUCIFER  AcrV 

Than  endless  watching  in  the  house  of  fear. 

(The  Risen  Christ  appears) 

What  do  I  see  ?   Ere  this,  when  racked  with  care 
Men  have  seen  ghosts.     My  senses  are  befooled. 
Why  should  these  inward  vapours  not  be  ruled 
By  him  who  drives  the  thunderbolt  ?    Look  there  ! 
Oh,  I  must  nip  this  ague  in  the  germ 
Ere  it  grow  master-madness  !    Let  me  clutch 
My  good  throne  so.     Ah,  while  I  feel  thee  firm 
My  reason  will  be  safe.     The  rest's  not  much. 
Behold,  he  cometh  terrible  and  grave 
To  seize  my  sceptre. 

CHRIST 
'Tis  a  thing  I  gave. 

ZEUS 

He  answereth  my  thought,  or  is't  my  thought 
That  answereth  itself? — Thou  gav'st  me  naught. 
My  father  Time  gave  all  I  boast  to  have. 
Who  sayest  thou  thou  art  ? 

CHRIST 

Eternity. 
Both  life  and  kingdom  have  I  given  thee. 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  163 

ZEUS 

My  father's  spirit  !  Spare  me  !  I  resign 
Both  life  and  kingdom,  if  thou  too  give  thine 
Back  to  thy  father. 

CHRIST 
I  have  rendered  mine. 

ZEUS 

What !  Is  old  Uranus  awake  again  ? 

CHRIST 

Can  Heaven  sleep?     Are  not  his  silent  spheres 
Perpetual  in  their  round?  Is  not  his  main 
Of  light  immense,  and  infinite  his  years  ? 

ZEUS 
What  wouldst  thou  then  ?     Wouldst  thou  again 

devour 
Thy  children's  souls  and  henceforth  reign  alone  ? 

CHRIST 
I  and  my  Father  envy  not  thy  throne. 

ZEUS 

Why  come  so  ghost-like  then  to  mock  my  power  ? 


164  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

CHRIST 

Ripeness  of  time  and  the  appointed  hour 
Come  to  us  all.     Thou  in  thy  day  of  need 
Hast  called  upon  me,  and  behold    I  heed. 

ZEUS 
I  never  called  upon  thee. 

CHRIST 

Thou  didst  send 

Thy  son  with  offerings  to  me  ;  even  now 
Didst  pray  to  see  my  face. 

ZEUS 

What,  was  it  thou, 

Cronos,  that  Hermes  sought  ?     O  bitter  end  ! 
I  see  the  meshes  of  the  Parcae  now. 
While  in  fond  sloth  I  slept,  and   thought  me  blest 
Drinking  sweet  poison  in  a  golden  cup, 
My  outraged  blood  bred  this  avenger  up. 
Too  late  I  sought  thee  in  thy  cloudy  nest, 
Ill-boding  Phoenix ;  too,  too  late  delayed 
To  its  last  refuge  to  pursue  thy  shade. 
Would  I  had  hastened,  burning  still  with  wrong 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  165 

And  drunk  with  blood,  while  death  was  in  thine 

eyes, 

And  crushed  thee  quite,  nor  seen  thee  thus  arise 
After  long  ages.      But  I  thought  me  strong, 
And  was  too  merciful. — Yet  the  vision  lies, 
Perchance. — Thou  wouldst  my  kingdom  ? 

,     CHRIST 

Nay.     Thy  heart. 

ZEUS 

Ah,  cruel  father  !  Canst  thou  pluck  it  out  ? 

CHRIST 
To  me  it  lieth  bare. 

ZEUS 

No  sword,  no  dart 

Is  in  thy  hand.     My  children  stand  about 
Ready  with  arms.     Attempt  it,  if  thou  dare. 

CHRIST 

The  sword  I  bring  is  now  transfixed  there. 
Invisibly  it  long  hath  pierced  thy  soul 
With  secret  anguish,  and  the  fear  of  death 


1 66  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

Dwells  in  thy  breast.      To  me  is  given  power, 
If  thou  dost  will,  to  heal  thee  with  my  breath. 

ZEUS 

To  pluck  my  heart,  and  heal  me  ? 

CHRIST 

Thou  hast  heard. 

ZEUS  (.rising) 

I  called  upon  thee  in  an  an  evil  hour, 

Impotent  shade  that  with  equivocal  word 

Dost  work  upon  my  doubt.     Avaunt !      Begone ! 

In  what  I  did,  not  I  but  nature  erred, 

That  made  me  mad.    Let  vengeance  long  deferred 

Come  now,  and  let  what  must  be  be  anon. 

Ho!  children.    Look, dear  sister.    There  he  stands 

Whom  ye  have  summoned,  Cronos,  once  a  god. 

Question  ye  him,  if  any  understands 

His  riddled  speech.     Of  old  I  bound  his  hands 

And  took  his  thunder  from  him  and  his  rod. 

(Re-enter  all  the  gods  successively} 
ATHENA 

I  told  thee,  Hera,  there  was  naught  to  fear. 
Let  us  approach. 


AerV  LUCIFER  167 

HERA 

The  same  I  saw,  the  same. 
But  oh,  not  Cronos.     Could  my  father  dear 
Wear  such  a  shape  ? 

ATHENA 

Come,  I  will  ask  his  name. 

ZEUS 
'Tis  Cronos'  shade. 

HERA  (to  Zeus) 

Thy  wit  is  turned,  for  shame 
At  that  old  crime. 

(To  Athena) 

No,  daughter,  not  too  near. 

ATHENA  (to  Christ) 

What  do  men  call  thee  ? 

CHRIST 

Many  names  they  use. 

Some  call  me  Son,  some  Master,  some  the  Word, 
Some  by  another  name  of  angels  heard 
On  bended  knees  alone. 


i68  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

ATHENA 

Dost  thou  refuse 
To  tell  us  what  thou  art? 

CHRIST 

Lo  !     I  am  he 

Near  to  all  hearts  whom  none  hath  ever  found. 
Read,  if  ye  will. 

(He  writes  on  the  ground  with  his  staff.  All,  in  a  circle ,  watch  him.) 
ARES  (aside  to  Aphrodite) 

What  writes  he  on  the  ground  ? 

APHRODITE 

A  word  in  my  own  tongue  he  means  for  me. 

ARES  (looking) 

Why,  I  can  read  it,  too.     Plain  c  Victory/ 

ATHENA 

That  is  a  thought  thou  tak'st  the  title  of 
And  not  a  thing  of  life.     To  be  c  the  Truth ' 
Is  to  be  bright  in  every  spirit's  love, 
Being  nothing  in  oneself. 


ACT  V  LUCIFER  169 

HERA  (apart) 

Ah,  from  my  youth 
No  seer  ever  read  my  secret  so. 

(To  Christ) 

But  tell  me,  prophet,  art  thou  friend  or  foe  ? 

CHRIST 
Friend,  if  he  be  a  friend  who  gave  thee  life. 

ZEUS 

But  foe,  if  he  would  take  that  life  again. 
To  ease  their  lust  the  husband  and  the  wife 
Beget  the  child  and  bring  him  forth  to  pain, 
And  while  for  their  delight  they  rear  the  boy 
Tread  down  his  soul,  and  chide  with  peevish  rage 
If  far  from  home  he  snatch  a  day  of  joy, 
While  they  devise  how  in  their  feeble  age 
To  use  his  love  and  keep  his  heritage. 
So  common  fathers  are,  but  thou  the  worst 
Who  art  not  only  tyrant  of  the  soul, 
But  the  frail  children  thou  begettest  first 
Devourest  after ;  and  when  in  natural  thirst 


170  LUCIFER  AcrV 

For  life  and  joy  they  slip  thy  harsh  control 
Watchest  to  curse  them.      Be  thyself  accurst. 

(He  turns  away  and  mounts  his  throne  again) 
HERA 

He  thinks  thee  Cronos.     He  is  much  distraught 
And  hath  misread  thy  script.     Let  me,  who  share 
His  royal  office,  speak  his  better  thought. 
What  in  thy  country  is  thy  private  care 
Concerns  us  not,  what  battles  thou  hast  fought 
Or  triumphs  sounded  in  those  realms  of  air. 
We  would   not  harm  thee,  for  thou  seemest  wise 
And  weak.     Not  by  thy  hand  we  think  to  fall. 
The  rich  and  gleaming  treasures  of  this  hall 
Bring  little  gladness  to  thy  godlike  eyes. 
Go  therefore  back.     We  will  persuade  no  more 
Thy  griefs  to  wander  from  their  cloudy  shore. 

(She  turns  away  and  takes  her  place  beside  Zeus) 
CHRIST 

If  I  go  hence,  great  weakness  overwhelms 
Your  kingdom  now.     As  long  ago  I  gave 
I  now  take  back  your  being  and  your  realms. 
Who  keeps  shall  lose  his  life,  who  gives  shall  save. 


AcxV  LUCIFER  171 

ARES 

Bah  !  Would  a  child  be  gulled  by  such  a  trick? 
I  have  fought  much,  but  never  yielded  yet 
To  any  foe,  although  my  heart  grew  sick 
And  mine  eyes  dim,  with  naught  but  glory  set 
Before  the  victor.     I  can  still  endure 
And  face  the  worst.     It  were  not  much  to  die, 
And  it  behooves  the  soldier  to  be  poor. 

CHRIST 
To  what  end  battiest  thou  ? 

ARES 

I  know  not,  I. 
Only  a  coward  asks  the  reason  why. 

(fie  turns  away) 

ATHENA  (joining  Ares,    and   -moving  with    him    towards   their 
thrones) 

Nay,  courage  also  wields  the  arms  of  thought. 
It  is  for  freedom,  brother,  thou  hast  fought, 
For  the  sweet  privilege  of  breathing  deep 
The  air  of  heaven  and  of  speaking  sooth 
And  sharing  with  the  comrades  of  thy  youth 


172  LUCIFER  AcrV 

The  joy  of  battle  and  the  balm  of  sleep. 

I  know  these  wiles.    What  calls  itself  the  Truth 

Wraps  in  an  evil  dream  the  things  we  see, 

And  henceforth  naught  is  pleasant,  fair,  or  free 

In  all  the  world,  till  in  her  ecstasy 

The  soul,  bereft  of  light,  her  heavenly  food, 

Deems  her  last  agony  her  perfect  good. 

APHRODITE  (who  meantime  has  drawn  nearer  to  Christ) 

Stranger,  who  comest  from  my  native  land — 
For  these  are  not  the  hills  where  I  was  born, 
Nor  these  my  sisters — heed  thou  not  their  scorn. 
Some  things  the  happy  never  understand. 

CHRIST 
Art  thou  not  happy  ? 

APHRODITE 

Oh,  the  mocking  word  ! 
The  chains  of  fortune  and  of  fatal  love 
Burden  my  soul,  while  perfect  joy  deferred 
Woos  me  to  fly,  and  flies  with  each  remove. 
Where  shall  I  find  my  rest  ? 


AcrV  LUCIFER  173 

CHRIST 

In  loving  more. 

APHRODITE 

'Tis  now  my  torment  that  I  love  too  much. 

CHRIST 

Love  all  things  and  love  justly.   They  who  clutch 
My  raiment  lose  me.     Touch  not  and  adore. 

APHRODITE 

Ah,  that  were  peace.     And  yet  what  love  is  this 
That  drives  all  hope  away  ? 

CHRIST 

It  is  a  cross. 

The  perfect  victory  of  love  it  is 
To  conquer  love,  and  in  that  blessed  loss 
To  live  for  ever  without  other  bliss. 

APHRODITE 

Were  death  not  better  ?     With  hope  set  before 
Patience  is  good,  but  not  with  hope  denied. 
Knowing  the  sea  to  stretch  without  a  shore 


174  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

The  mariner  would  drop  the  oar  he  plied ; 

Nor  would  the  ploughman  yoke  the  labouring  steer 

Thinking  it  should  be  winter  all  the  year. 

We  look  for  happiness,  else  had  we  died 

When  reason  dawned.     I  think  at  last  to  hear 

The  longed-for  voice,  the  music  of  my  dreams, 

Calling  my  name,  at  last  to  kiss  the  face 

My  fancy  painted,  know  the  long  embrace. 

Else  what  were  love  ?     A  foolish  thing,  meseems, 

That  ends  in  nothing. 

CHRIST 

Love  can  never  end. 

{Aphrodite  turns  away  slowly) 

But  is  there  none  will  hearken  to  my  voice 
In   all   these   mansions  ?     None   that   knows   his 
friend  ? 

HERMES 

I  hearken  gladly,  and  had  I  the  choice 

Would  venture  with  thee.  Who  untaught  shall  tell 

Whether  thou  counsellest  and  lovest  well  ? 

But  with  my  father  and  my  brothers  here 

My  life  is  knit  for  better  or  for  worse, 


AcrV  LUCIFER  175 

And  I  would  rather  take  with  them  thy  curse 
Than  far  from  them  thy  blessing. 


CHRIST 

Lucifer 
Thou  lovest  not  ? 

HERMES 

I  hold  the  stranger  dear. 

CHRIST 

From  all  love  flows  intelligence  of  love, 

And  thine  might  yet  persuade  his  soul  to  move 

In  her  true  orbit,  with  her  starry  mates. 

HERMES 

Let  him  make  head  alone  against  the  fates 
Even  as  I ;  or  if  sad  thoughts  reprove 
What  once  he  did,  let  him  return  to  thee. 

(He  turns  away) 
CHRIST 

The  hour  is  come.     All  is  that  was  to  be. 
The  gift  I  brought  which  ye  would  not  receive 
Was  life,  but  death  shall  be  the  gift  I  leave. 


176  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

I  am  the  Lord  of  Immortality, 

The  way,  the  truth,  the  life ;  who  lives  by  me 

Shall  live  for  ever.     You  some  inward  voice 

Persuaded  once  that  you  should  ever  live. 

What  privilege  have  you  that  you  rejoice 

While  all  things  suffer  ?     You  shall  also  grieve. 

I  have  endowed  you  with  exceeding  strength 

And  beauty,  bidding  time  to  spare  your  pride 

And  leave  you  young.   But  you  shall  now  at  length 

Grow  old.     Vain  and  unsanctified, 

Weary  of  pleasures,  you  shall  yield  your  breath 

Like  waves  that  sink  again  into  the  sea, 

Not  having  any  voice  to  cry  to  me. 

But  painless  be  to  you  the  hour  of  death — 

For  you  have  sinned  in  all  unwittingly — 

And  full  of  stars  the   night  on  which  you  cease, 

Passing  forgetful  to  the  realms  of  peace. 

(Christ  disappears) 
HERA 

He  vanishes  ! 

ATHENA 

'Tis  well. 


AcrV  LUCIFER  177 

ZEUS 

If  I  must  die, 

To-day  at  least  I  sit  upon  my  throne  ; 
And  not  in  fief  I  hold  it.     'Tis  mine  own. 
The  earth,  my  temple,  stands.     My  native  sky 
Claps  me  about  with  homage  of  sweet  air. 
The  kindly  light  of  the  unquenched  sun 
Gladdens  mine  eyes.     To-day  the  world  is  fair. 
To-morrow,  if  dark  clouds  rebellious  run 
In  flaming  rack  athwart  the  seas  of  heaven, 
I  shall  not  less  have  lived,  I,  mighty  one. 
And  there  where  night,  the  mother  of  us  all, 
By  the  quick  birth  of  light  asunder  riven, 
Broods  infinite  and  in  her  starless  pall 
Folds  all  the  stars,  there,  children,  is  much  room 
For  you  and  me  and  him,  when  he  shall  fall, 
Who  judging  others  speaks  his  proper  doom. 
Some  comfort  it  will  be,  when  we  abide 
In  that  unbodied  realm,  to  see  this  ghost, 
Ill-boding  spirit  of  impalpable  pride, 
Enter  oblivion,  and,  hearing  still  his  boast, 
Feel  o'er  our  face  the  shade  of  laughter  glide. 
We  also  thought  we  should  not  taste  of  death, 


1 78  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

But  it  is  fated.     Fleeting  is  the  breath 
That  saith  :  I  am  eternal !     We  were  born 
And  we  must  therefore  die.     Such  is  the  wage 
Of  being.     Mourn,  my  stricken  children,  mourn. 
Into  the  boundless  ether  breathe  your  rage. 
You  will  be  quiet  soon.     E'en  now,  meseems, 
His  peace  is  on  us.     Lethargy  of  age 
Creeps  over  nature,  chilling  all  her  streams, 
And  heavy  with  the  languor  of  dull  dreams 
Ye  sit  upon  Olympus,  and  are  dumb. 
No  longer  from  his  crag  the  eagle  screams, 
And  in  the  wood  the  dryad's  limbs  are  numb. 
The  last  sad  summer  of  the  world  is  come. 
The  earth,  that  in  her  youth  prodigious  bore 
Mammoth  and  Mastodon  and  Titan  bold,d, 
Scarce  feeds  the  pigmies  that  she  spawned  of  yore. 
Weary  she  bows  he-r  palsied  head  and  hoar, 
Likening  her  fate  unto  the  fate  untold 
Of  by-gone  worlds,  while  man,  her  nursling,  gathers 
The  utmost  harvest  from  the  laboured  mould, 
Envying  the  straitened  fortunes  of  his  fathers 
In  piety  content,  though  poor  in  gold  ; 
And  on  the  barren  peak  he  lived  to  climb 


AcrV  LUCIFER  179 

He  stands  aghast,  and  vainly  waxen  old 
Prays  the  sweet  heavens.     But  the  stars  are  cold. 
Fool,  fool,  to  chide  his  soul  with  ancient  crime, 
Nor  mark  how  earth  and  sky,  together  rolled, 
His  loves,  his  labours,  and  the  gods  sublime 
He  deemed  immortal,  slowly  yield  to  time. 


SCENE  SECOND 

LUCIFER'S  ISLAND,  AS  IN  ACT  FIRST. 

TUREL 

Came  he  hither  ?     In  the  sphere 
Where  the  happy  angels  dwell 
They  made  answer  :     All  is  well. 
Lucifer  is  past  from  here. 
When  I  asked  the  lost  in  hell 
For  their  lord,  they  cried  to  me: 
Look  in  heaven.     We  are  free. 
When  I  sought  him  by  the  shore, 
We  remembered  him  no  more, 
Said  the  voices  of  the  sea. 


i8o  LUCIFER  AcrV 

Thou  alone,  unhappy  star, 
Still  hast  echoes  for  his  name. 
Will  he  welcome  me,  or  blame 
That  I  followed  him  afar  ? 
When  he  cometh,  let  him  mark 
The  old  glimmer  of  this  flame. 

(He  kneels  by  the  hearth  to  kindle  it) 

The  dead  flint  still  yields  a  spark 
To  the  steel  that  striketh. — Hark ! 
My  heart  leaps  as  if  he  came. 

(Lucifer  crosses  over) 

Doth  he  see  me  ?  Doth  he  pass  ? 
Ah  !  his  thoughts  are  otherwhere 
And  the  bitter  mask  of  care 
Lies  upon  his  face.     Alas, 
Buried  in  the  ancient  pain, 
He  who  made  the  world  so  bright 
For  a  space  !     O  happy  night 
When  Lord  Hermes  comes  again  ! 

LUCIFER  (stopping) 

Thou  art  a  fool  to  wish  him  back  again. 
He's  dead. 


AcrV  LUCIFER  181 

TUREL 

Dead  ?  Oh,  I  knew  not  that. 

LUCIFER 

'Tis  true. 

To  the  eternal  spirit's  changeless  view 
What  shall  be  is.     The  way  of  speech  is  vain 
That  saith,  He  is  not,  but  shall  be  anon, 
And  then,  He  is,  and  then,  He  is  no  more. 
Thus  with  a  groping  hand  the  blind  explore 
The  embossed  page ;  the  word  their  finger's  on 
They  know,  but  have  not  eyes  to  look  before. 
Yet  every  letter  of  that  ancient  page 
For  ever  stands,  imprinted  as  on  brass, 
And  it  is  we  then  turn  the  leaves  and  pass, 
Reading  the  sequent  tale  of  age  on  age. 

TUREL 
Alas !   How  did  he  die  ? 

LUCIFER 

Unthrifty  boy, 

How  art  thou  here  to  ask  ?      I  bid  thee  go 
And  not  entangle  in  my  mesh  of  woe 


1 82  LUCIFER  AerV 

Thy  witless  soul.     The  devils  will  employ 
Thine  idleness  and  give  thee  answers.     No, 
I  will  no  longer  keep  thee. 

TUREL 

Lord,  forgive 
Or  slay  me  else.     I  have  no  will  to  live. 

LUCIFER 

Ha  !  What  a  blessed  end  it  is  for  all 
To  die.     The  flowers  of  sweetest  breath 
Are  nearest  to  the  blessedness  of  death, 
For  as  their  sweetness  is  ephemeral 
So  is  their  life.      Only  the  rankest  thorn 
That  thrives  by  hatred  hath  the  winds  in  scorn. 
Ay,  it  is  well  I  killed  him. 

TUREL 

Hermes  killed  ! 

LUCIFER 

It  was  in  mercy.     Thou  didst  beg  to  die 
But  now.     In  him  the  blessing  is  fulfilled 
That  cannot  come  to  thee. 


AcrV  LUCIFER  183 

TUREL 

You  did  it  ? 

LUCIFER 

I. 

To  die  is  better  than  to  live.     Our  sin 
Alone  is  fertile,  peopling  all  the  earth 
With  lust  and  error  and  their  troublous  kin. 
But  chastity  is  barren,  and  her  worth 
Outshines  the  stars  ;  she  brings  all  good  things  in 
Into  the  soul,  and  mercy,  strength,  and  peace 
Follow  her  light.    Long  years  the  lingering  ghosts 
Of  hate  and  folly  walk  the  night  in  hosts. 
The  life  of  innocence  is  quenched  with  ease. 
So  thou,  the  perfect,  whom  the  sacred  earth 
Brought  forth  to  beauty,  dying,  now  hast  shed 
Thy  fragrance  in  the  garden  of  thy  birth, 
As  Hyacinth  once  bowed  his  poppied  head 
Parched  by  the  noon,  when  from  the  highest  height 
Phoebus,  his  lover,  rained  the  shafts  of  light 
And  slew  his  love,  and  hallowed  him  when  dead. 
The  sad  Apollo  kept  the  flower  instead 
To  be  his  comfort  ;  I  have  lost  thee  quite, 
And  all  the  sweetness  of  my  life  is  fled. 


1 84  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

TUREL 

If  he  is  dead  and  can  return  no  more 
And  you  must  keep  your  vigils  here  alone, 
Oh,  let  me  serve  you,  even  as  before, 
For  sorrow  hath  a  comfort  of  its  own 
Coming  by  you. 

LUCIFER 

What  !   Must  I  say  it  o'er  ? 
Have  hell  or  heaven  any  part  in  me, 
Whichever  thou  be  of?     Begone.     Of  old 
I  did  thee  wrong,  and  all  I  see  in  thee 
Is  that  dead  horror.     Get  thee  hence.     Yet  hold ; 
There's  yet  an  office  for  thy  ministry 
Greater  than  all. — When  Hermes'  star  is  cold, 
And  chaos  shattereth  his  crystal  sphere, 
And  other  gods  lie  buried  with  their  fear 
Beneath  Olympus'  ruin,  he,  the  bold 
And  swift  contriver,  will  with  skill  elude 
The  crumbling  stars,  and  reach  the  outer  wold, 
And  in  that  dark  and  pathless  solitude 
Remember  me.     Safe  then  will  seem  the  nest 
The  eagle  builded,  sweet  the  bitter  rest 


AcrV  LUCIFER  185 

Of  exile,  and  the  face  of  friendship  good  ; 
And  he  will  yield  him,  trusting  in  my  aid, 
To  the  dark  whirlwind.     When  he  first  essayed 
That  unknown  flood,  the  swift  insidious  flaw 
Wafted  him  hither,  falsely  seeming  kind  ; 
Unsought  he  found  me,  sought  he  shall  not  find, 
But  in  the  midst  of  heaven  struck  with  awe 
Sink  in  the  void.     With  fluttering  of  his  wings 
He  shall  not  fly  beyond  the  realms  of  death, 
Nor  by  the  wasting  of  his  little  breath 

Reverse  the  ancient  destiny  of  things. 

\ 

TUREL 

Then  this  hath  not  been  yet.     May  I  not  go, 
Find  him  and  save  him  ? 

LUCIFER 

No,  I  tell  thee,  no. 

No  man  shall  hearken  unto  him  that  saith : 
Lucifer,  Lucifer.     That  word  of  woe 
Shall  be  his  last. — But  listen  :  on  the  strand 
Walk  thou  and  watch,  till  the  disconsolate  flow 
Of  the  same  flood  that  cast  him  here  of  yore 


186  LUCIFER  ACT  V 

Wash  up  his  body  on  the  beaten  shore. 
Close  for  my  sake  his  eyes  with  pious  hand 
Lest  afterwards  their  dumb  and  piteous  stare 
Haunt  thee  in  hell.    Then  in  the  yielding  sand 
Dig  deep  his  grave,  and  lay  him  gently  there. 
When  thou  hast  smoothed  it  over,  go  thy  way. 
And  if  in  hell  thy  comrades  speak  of  me 
And  ask  if  I  have  perished,  thou  shalt  say 
That  the  last  service  that  in  life  could  be, 
Thy  hand  did   for  me.      Go,  child,  go.     This  day 
My  soul  hath  entered  on  eternity. 

{Exit  Turel) 

Great  God,  when  thy  frail  son  of  Galilee 
Forsaken  on  the  cross  was  nigh  to  death, 
Into  thy  hands  he  yielded  up  his  breath. 
Death's  vain  forgetting  hath  no  balm  for  me. 
Hereafter  I  shall  look  upon  the  sun 
In  sorrow,  for  my  circle  is  not  run, 
The  circle  of  mine  endless  misery. 
My  pang  is  greater  than  a  man's  could  be 
Whose  father  was  in  heaven  and  who,  forsooth, 
Thought  to  be  happy.     And  I  needs  must  find 
A  greater,  dearer  comforter  than  he. 


AcrV  LUCIFER  187 

0  truth,  O  truth,  eternal  bitter  truth, 

Be  thou  my  refuge  when  all  else  is  blind! 
Thou  art  the  essence  of  my  lofty  mind ; 
At  thy  pure  wells  I  will  renew  my  youth. 
Thy  joyless  bosom  never  was  unkind 
To  him  who  loved  thee  ;  let  us  now  be  one. 

1  have  no  other  friend,  I  have  resigned 

All  love  but  thine.     My  foolish  life  is  done. 
But  O  ye  hills  that  I  have  known  of  old, 
Unravished  of  the  sun,  ye  snowy  flock 
For  ever  sleeping,  take  me  to  your  fold 
And  in  your  flanks  of  adamantine  rock 
Entomb  my  fiery  heart.     Over  me  spread 
Your  frozen  shroud  and  wreathe  me  in  ice-flowers, 
To  watch  with  you  through  everlasting  hours 
And  not  remember.     Lo  !   I  lift  my  head 
Into  the  void,  in  scorn  of  all  that  live 
Through  hope  and  anguish  and  insensate  wars. 
For,  knowing  grief,  I  have  forgot  to  grieve, 
And,  having  suffered,  without  tears  receive 
The  visitation  of  my  kindred  stars. 

THE    END 


PRINTED  BY  R.  R.  DONNELLEY 
AND  SONS  COMPANY  AT  THE 
LAKESIDE  PRESS,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


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